Who We Serve

All our students share one thing in common: difficulty in school.

Students typically struggle academically, socially or with executive functioning skills and these challenges often overlap.

 

Student Profile & Common Diagnoses

ACADEMIC DIFFICULTIES

Developmental Coordination Disorder, Specific Learning Disorder with impairments in reading (dyslexia), mathematics (dyscalculia), and/or written expression (dysgraphia).

SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES

Social (pragmatic) Communication Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder (high functioning).

GENERAL DIFFICULTIES

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Language Disorders (expressive/receptive),

Executive Functioning, Processing Deficits, Anxiety.

 

Our focus is on serving the social and academic needs of children with learning differences, and therefore we are not equipped to serve students with significant behavioral or emotional issues.

 

How do we do it?

At The Joy School, we believe in redefining "how school should be"- a place where children with learning differences rediscover the joy of learning, gain confidence, and achieve their full potential academically and socially. Our mission is rooted in supporting students who face challenges in traditional classroom settings, giving them the tools and strategies to succeed in school and life.

 

The House Rules

The 12 Keys to Success

Each Key is a unique, though not independent attribute, that we intentionally teach our students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

They are fundamental values and skills beyond academic remediation and accommodation that set our students up for success - the unspoken rules for school and for life enabling us to directly teach executive functioning and social pragmatic skills through our curriculum and in real-time. 

Our Graduates

Most students attend The Joy School for three to four years and are highly successful when transitioning to mainstream elementary, middle and high schools. Upon leaving the School, students:

• Demonstrate success in future academic settings
• Have skills to navigate a variety of academic and social situations
• Take responsibility for their own learning
• Exhibit self-advocacy and resiliency to overcoming adversity
• Possess confidence in their uniqueness
• Value the uniqueness of others

You can learn more about our students in these videos.