New Horizon School

Outstanding special needs school! Our son has a mild intellectual disability and has been thriving at NHS. The staff is very supportive and provides a lot of personal attention to the students. The "vibe" from the students and staff is always very positive. They spend a lot of effort on getting students prepared for life after graduation.

New Horizon has been the perfect match for our son- an unquestionable 5 star! We have significant experience in the public school system and with a different private school. New Horizon clearly sets the bar when it comes to keeping the needs of our son first, always. At prior schools we (and our son's therapist) spent significant time (and $) creating systems for our son and then trying to "sell" the school on using them. It was a constant battle, and a stressful situation all around. We found ourselves continually having to reassure these other schools/teachers that it would be ok, that our son had potential, had capability, that he was worthy of the effort. From the very beginning, New Horizon was reassuring us that everything would be ok, that our son would learn, that he had great potential! They had all the systems we were trying to implement at other schools already in place! Clearly, they were set up to serve the needs of our son (Autism and significant ADHD diagnosis) and had experience doing it. Our son's confidence and joy for school returned within the first few weeks of attending New Horizon, after a couple years of decline elsewhere. It was no surprise that the school's (and our own in-home) testing and regular data collection showed he was also learning more than ever before. He's currently finishing up his second year at New Horizon and things couldn't be better. His teachers are invested and committed in his future. School administrators are proactive and amazingly experienced. Our son continues to make great strides (academically and socially) and loves his school. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, COVID happened, and it became immediately clear New Horizon was setting the bar once again. Our other (typically developing) son is in local public school and it's been a real challenge moving to an online learning program. Not so with New Horizon. They've been very organized in developing and supporting online learning. Our son is no where near as independent as our son who attends public school, yet the transition has been far more successful. He doesn't seem to have missed a beat in his learning progress and his ability to complete work independently may have actually accelerated! While it's difficult to say what the future holds for our son, we are certain New Horizon has already made an invaluable difference in our son's life!

My family's experience with New Horizon School have been nothing but wonderful. Two years ago, after my niece Jackie had a stroke that left her partially paralyzed, we knew that public school was no longer a good fit for her. We decided that there was no better place for her to finish school than NHS. Her first day, she talked about how nice everyone was to her and how different it was from "regular" High School. Later, she raved how much she loved the school and how she could be herself & everyone liked and accepted her there. She talked about how great the teachers were & how she could not only understand the subjects better, but how they made her want to learn more. The teachers adapted all the curriculum and activities to fit her needs. She was even able to join archery and was the school play where she had to dance. She graduated last year. I know that without this school, she never would have been able to blossom into the confident & amazing young lady that she has become.

New Horizon School is a wonderful school! The teachers are excellent, and they really know how to work with students with special eduction needs. The classes are small, our son is in classes of 3-4 students. With their specialized curriculum, he is really gaining skills in math, reading, and writing. When he first started there, he didn't have his math facts memorized, but now he has learned how to multiply and divide. They are teaching him how to get along with others, and he gets a lot of practice at this because New Horizon School has clubs, teams, and parties for the students. Even parents have opportunities to learn through the parent education workshops New Horizon School provides. They choose topics and speakers that are relevant to parents raising a special education student. I highly recommend this school!

In her previous schools, my daughter never felt a part of the group. She always stood alone, afraid to join in, and never invited. At New Horizon School, other students welcomed and invited her to join in. For the first few weeks, she kept "expecting" to be bullied as she had been in other schools. Slowly she learned that no one would bully her, because "that's just not the way we do things here" (another student's words to her). I love that as a parent I can come in through the main office anytime, and everyone knows my name, my family, and my daughter. I don't have to try to hurry out of the office, because everyone at the school knows exactly what our family is going through. "It's what we do here" - (Office staff member's words to me). We were always afraid that with her low social skills, our daughter would continue to be victimized as she had been in other schools. We used to dread the future, wondering how all of the past traumatic events in previous schools would affect her; but now I look forward to watching her gain autonomy, have the confidence to volunteer in the community, and see herself as someone who matters in the world.

My Daughter has attended NHS since 2010. I have struggled with the best way to convey my appreciation for New Horizon School, as I wasn't sure if I had the right words to say what the school has meant to my family. As I came to pick up my daughter for one of her many children's hospital appointments, it occurred to me that in a few short months my daughter will be finished here. I got emotional just realizing we will be on our own soon. This school has been an absolute godsend for my daughter and our family. After coming from a very bad situation with one of the local high schools, she enrolled in NHS. I went from worrying about my daughter every minute to never worrying about her. They have taught her, protected her, and loved her beyond expectations. This school, teachers and staff are simply topnotch. They are the best of the best, well educated people that love their jobs and the children they serve. It is clear to see that the teachers have the student’s safety, education and all around well-being at heart. I would recommend this school to anyone. Sincerely, Vicki Lemafa

I am so happy that we found this school. Our son isn't enrolled yet, but we hope he will be soon. He's elementary age, struggles with academics, and has sensory processing and other special needs due to his disability. We enjoyed our tour of New Horizon School and our son was so happy during his visit. Their program is fantastic, and we know he will get the right kind of instruction so that he can learn. The classrooms are small and he liked being with other children with similar special needs. They assessed his academic and social needs while he was there, and really understood him. We have asked our school district to contract with New Horizon to place our son there for his special education services, and we hope that will happen soon. It can't happen soon enough for us!

My son started at New Horizon in 6th grade after having completed six years of public school. During his visiting week to NHS he decided he didn't want to go back to public school. There is a culture at NHS that is so inclusive; no one is judged and everyone works together so well. I could not imagine having my son attend another school. He has blossomed and is getting ready to graduate and wants to attend college. I never thought he would be able to do that. Nothing but the highest of praise for NHS, faculty and staff

We put our teenager in this school starting with 8th grade, after a summer school introductory class. From day one, he was a different child. Instead of feeling like he had to apologize for his learning challenges, he felt acceptance and understanding. The teachers are excellent in discerning what is going on with a child at any given time and helping them cope with their issues and tolerate those of others. The individualization in the curriculum provided a safe and healthy environment in which he has thrived. He knows he is responsible for his own learning. In addition to the standard high school subjects, he has also learned to play chess and joined the archery team. There are fun events throughout the year which the students help plan and eagerly anticipate. He has also learned that he is a terrific photographer (yearbook project), rock climber and now snow shooing enthusiast. He may never choose writing as a career, but he has learned that he can get words from his mind to paper (or screen). It's a wonderful school!

New Horizon School is a wonderful school for kids with any learning difference. My grandson started the 6th grade here and after only 3 months he is a different kid. They provide an emotionally safe environment, individualized education, and very small groups & classes. He is on the autism spectrum and this school is fantastic for kids with ADHD, or any learning disability. We are very happy with the caring and patient staff and how they build on each student's strengths. Thank you New Horizon School!

Our son was very happy at New Horizon. The academic classes were at his levels so he could do his homework independently. He loved the music performance lab. He would never have been able to participate in a performance class in public school due to his ADHD and Autism. For the first time in his life, he earned awards at every student assembly (held every quarter). We are so proud of him, because at New Horizon he was able to earn his high school diploma and go on to college, even though he has special needs. Thank you for helping our family New Horizon!

Our family and especially our son have been extremely fortunate to have found New Horizon School. Up until 4 years ago, our son was able to attend public school. When he entered high school, the dynamic challenges that he faced were just too much for him to deal with and we quickly realized how lost and scared he was. We reached out to New Horizon School for help. Our son is now surrounded by caring and supportive people that have helped him see his world very differently. They have provided him opportunities to discover his voice and that his opinions & choices make a difference not only in his life but in the lives of others. New Horizon School works very hard to challenge him to be the best he can be while showing him an abundance of patience, kindness & respect at those times when he is struggling. Thank you New Horizon School for all you have done for our son & our family.

My child started going to New Horizons School after many years of heartache in the public education setting. He is doing excellent now. He is on the autism spectrum and always was bullied and in classes where he was the only one with a disability. He always felt bad about himself and never did the public educators use his strengths to see him succeed. All children with learning disabilities have strengths and the teachers at New Horizons School and all staff recognize them in each individual. He is excelling now for the first time and we as a family are so grateful. New Horizons School has changed our lives!

My son has changed from an anxious, behaviorally volatile, disinterested and academically failing teen to an engaged learner with excelling marks, post high school plans and student leadership skills. The teachers are excited, motivativating, exceptionally patient and uniquely able to engage challenging young learners individually in ways that help each student grow socially as well as academically. And they make it fun while maintaining an atmosphere that engenders respect for everyone. Having language, social skills and psychological counseling available on site during the school day and having these professionals working with the school staff has been a terrific benefit as well. We tried several different public school programs, with IEPs we helped write as very involved parents, but my son became so much happier and life got so much easier after he started at NHS! It is the right size with the right schedule and good class offerings for students with learning differences and/or mild to moderate neuropsychological issues.

My daughter attended NHS and we were very happy with the educational services along with the attention paid to each students individual needs. If she had not attended NHS we are not sure she would have been able to attend college. The ASB sponsored activities made a small school seem bigger and the archery team was a great deal of fun for her. While there our daughter earned a letter in skiing, dance team, and archery, She would not have been able to participate in these activities in a public school setting.

Fantastic school! The respectful, accepting, and encouraging environment helps students flourish and grow as learners and as people.

I give this school an A plus! the individualized, patient learning environment is highly effective. its like a family environment, it makes learning GREAT FUN!!