FAQs

Frequently asked questions about our admissions process

Can I visit/tour The Pathway School before the school district/charter school agrees to send a referral?

Yes.  We welcome families/professionals to tour our program at any point in the process; however, we cannot schedule the Intake Meeting until after the school has submitted a referral for consideration.  Admissions staff will offer guidance relative to the timing of a tour based on individual conversation with families/caregivers, but will respect the wishes of those requesting to tour.

At what point do I bring my son/daughter to visit The Pathway School?

Students will tour/visit the school during the Intake Meeting.  During this time, they will get a tour of the school and spend time interacting with some of our staff to help us make responsible placement recommendations.  Prior to the Intake Meeting, a student is welcome to join their parent/guardian on a tour of the school if desired.  Admissions staff will provide guidance to families as appropriate when scheduling a tour of the school.

How are placement recommendations made?

Recommendations are made based on information gained via a combination of record review, conversations with people who know the student well, a possible observation in the student’s current placement and the Intake Meeting.  Through this thorough process, we are able to gather the information we need for recommendations.  

What happens if there is no room in the classroom that is appropriate for my child?

If the appropriate classroom is full, Admissions staff will add the students name to a waiting list.  If a space opens up, Admissions staff will reach out to the referral professional and parent/guardian.  If the IEP team agrees to re-open the referral, Admissions staff will follow the referral process steps.  Depending on the time since the initial referral, updated records may be required.

What documents do you need to review?

We value the opportunity to review any educational and clinical records/evaluations done within the last year (or two depending on the document).  We need to see the current Individualized Education Plan, Evaluation Report/Re-evaluation Report and progress reports for the current IEP.  Additional documents are determined based on the individual students needs/abilities and can include but are not limited to: Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP), Occupational Therapy Evaluation, Speech & Language Evaluation, Physical Therapy Evaluation, Psychological/Neuropsychological/Psycho-educational Evaluation, Psychiatric Evaluation.

How long does the process take?

The Admissions team aims to provide timely responses when referrals are received, with a goal of outreach to the family within a week of receipt of the referral.  This timeline is dependent upon the volume of referrals received, so can take more time in some cases.  From the time a referral is received to the time a student starts, the process can generally take between 2-4 weeks.  This timeline allows for file review, additional information gathering conversations, scheduling of the intake and enrollment paperwork completion.  Each case is different and can move more or less quickly based on any number of factors. For more information about the enrollment process click here.

What grades do you serve?

The Pathway School is licensed to serve students Kindergarten through the age of 21.

What types of students attend your school?

Students attending The Pathway School have a variety of educational and clinical/medical diagnosis including but not limited to: Autism, Specific Learning Disabilities, Emotional Disturbance, Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, Borderline to Mild Intellectual Disability.  The needs of each student are considered so we can be confident in our ability to support them.  Although some of our students have a Speech & Language Impairment, all students are utilizing verbal language to access their education and interact with their peers/staff.  Students with more significant communication needs are not appropriately served by The Pathway School.

Do you provide related services (i.e. Speech, Occupational Therapy, Counseling, etc)?

Our comprehensive team includes the following professionals:

  • Speech/Language Pathologist
  • Occupational Therapists/Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants
  • Reading Therapists
  • School Psychologists
  • Social Workers
  • School Nurse

If a student requires additional related services which our team cannot deliver, the admissions team works with the LEA to have them contract with agencies to provide those. This can include services such as Physical Therapy, Vision Therapy, Hearing Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, and others.

What does a typical school day look like?

Students are engaged in academic coursework on a daily basis.  Generally, class periods are 40 minutes long and students receive instruction in English Language Arts, Math, History/Social Studies, Science and Social Skills.  Students in grades K-8th receive Physical Education, Health, STEM Activities, Creative Arts and Technology on a weekly basis.  Students in High School will receive Physical Education/Health weekly, but due to their involvement in our Career Education Program, may not have a scheduled Creative Arts or Technology class.  After lunch, all students have a designated amount of time to socialize with their friends before they head back into classes for the afternoon.  A couple of days a week, the last class period of the day is when students participate in elective/club experiences and the other days, they have Resource class which allows them to catch up on work they may have missed and/or get additional support in subjects as needed.

Do you have electives for students?

All students have the opportunity to select elective classes to participate in a couple of times weekly. Electives include but are not limited to Technology, Cooking, Creative Arts, Robotics, and Sports.  Elective classes are updated as student interests present.

Additionally, all of our students have the opportunity to participate in our Drama Program which allows them to be an actor/actress in the school play.  Students interested in participating will have practices one time per week for the semester, and the plays are then performed at a local theatre company at the end of the semester.

STEM programming is important for all students.  The Pathway School is one of the first Approved Private Schools in the country to provide STEM for all students – regardless of ability/need.  Throughout their educational program, and through experiences in our Innovation Center, students are involved in STEM throughout their entire week.

How often do parents/guardians have contact with school staff?

Parent/guardian communication is important to our team.  We value the collaboration we have with our families and know it is important for family members to be included in their child’s education.  The student’s homeroom teacher will be the main point of contact for our parents/guardians.  In the beginning of the school year, or shortly after a student enrolls, the homeroom teacher will initiate contact with the parent/guardian to discuss communication preferences – frequency and format of communication.  Parents are always welcome to reach out to their child’s teacher at any time via email but we ask that phone calls be made before/after school hours so as not to interfere with instruction.  The teacher will respond to emails as soon as possible when not responsible for student programming.

RELATED ARTICLES

Pathway’s Own Wright Brothers Soar to New Heights

Yes, the Pathway School has its own Wright brothers - Zahiir and Zahkir'e! They are identical twins who had their own way of communicating with each other from the time they were babies. However, as they grew up, they had trouble communicating with...

Finding a Place at Pathway – Syheem’s Story

Syheem Curry enrolled at The Pathway School in the fall of 2017 and continues to brighten the day of all of those who are around him with his warm and comforting smile. Even during the COVID-19 Pandemic, when masks prevent us from seeing his mouth,...