Lafayette School is an accredited special education school for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems.
The philosophy of the school is that all students have the capacity for learning and growth, regardless of their disability.
We provide children and adolescents with emotional or behavioral problems the skills necessary to return to a less restrictive school environment and to engage in healthy relationships with adults, peers, and society.
Teachers direct students toward achieving goals, enabling students to feel in control of their actions.
The role of the therapeutic staff is to explore conflicts and promote emotional, behavioral, and social growth.
Therapy and staff work with students and their families. Coping skills, such as anger management, problem-solving, and assertiveness training are taught and reinforced.
A structured behavior modification program, with rules, consequences, and reinforcement, assists in motivating students to achieve goals.
Recreational, art, and activity therapies provide an outlet for emotional expression and opportunities to excel in areas of interest.
An emphasis on achievement, a positive and nurturing environment, and emotional support from the staff, help to build self-esteem and decrease feelings of inadequacy, which are common in youth with emotional disturbance and behavioral problems.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- School Type: Special Education School
- Grades: 5-11
- Enrollment: 9 students
- Average class size: 6 students
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
- Source: Verified school update
School Overview
School Type
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 5-11
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Year Founded
1999
Summer School Offered
Yes
Student Body
Total Students
9 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
56%
State avg.: 31%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
3 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
3:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
75%
Average Class Size
6 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Admissions Director
Jennifer O'Malley
School Notes
- Lafayette School was established in August 1999 in Charlottesville, Virginia to serve children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems in a therapeutic day school environment.
- The school was founded on the principle that many youth with emotional and behavioral problems can be effectively treated and maintained in their home community in an intensive program that combines special education and therapeutic intervention.
- Lafayette School serves children and adolescents with emotional disturbance, behavioral disturbance, and/or mental illness in a structured special education and therapeutic program.
- Our philosophy is that all students have the capacity for learning and growth, regardless of their disability.
- The goal of the program is to provide students with the skills necessary to return to a less restrictive school environment.
- This includes having healthy relationships with adults and peers and functioning effectively in school and society.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline for Lafayette School?
The application deadline for Lafayette School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
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