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The Orthogenic School (The O-School)

Special-Needs Schools · Chicago, IL
Compiled from public sourcesPractice / clinic

About

Compiled from public web sources — unverified until claimed; please confirm details directly with the provider.

Focus
high-functioning autism emotional/behavioral mental health grades K-12
Area
Chicago, IL
Description
An ISBE-approved therapeutic day school in Chicago serving students with high-functioning autism and other mental-health and emotional needs.
Website
oschool.org

What this special-needs school offers

Summarized from their website — verify details directly with the special-needs school.

The Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School (The O-School) is a therapeutic day school in Chicago with nearly a century of history, serving bright, creative young people facing social-emotional challenges and/or autism spectrum disorder through its pioneering milieu therapy model. It operates a therapeutic day school, a Transition Learning Center, a Diagnostic Evaluation Center, and summer programming.

Leadership
Diana Kon, Ed.D. — Executive Director
Populations served
Social-emotional challenges Autism spectrum disorder Students with complex therapeutic and educational needs
Setting
Day
Ages
Elementary through high school age
Grades
Elementary through high school
On-site therapies
Milieu therapy Individual therapy Psychiatric services Nursing and medical care
Services
Therapeutic Day School Transition Learning Center (TLC) Diagnostic Evaluation Center (DEC) After School Program Camp O (summer program) Psychiatric services Nursing and medical care
Programs
Therapeutic Day School Transition Learning Center (TLC) Camp O Diagnostic Evaluation Center (DEC) After School Program
Accreditations & approvals
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC) Illinois Association of Private Special Education Centers (IAPSEC) National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)
Phone
773-420-2900
Highlights
91% of students finish high school; 55% pursue higher education (per long-term outcome study); nearly 100 years of operation
Approach
Milieu therapy — a whole-person, individualized, clinically sensitive model combining psychodynamic treatment with a humanizing therapeutic environment, pioneered over 75+ years of practice.
Admissions
Referral-based process for students with complex therapeutic and educational needs; contact via inquiry form or phone.

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What to look for in a special-needs school

  • Population served (autism, emotional/behavioral, learning differences) and the age/grade range
  • Whether it's an ISBE-approved nonpublic facility — districts can place and fund students there
  • On-site therapies (OT/PT/speech/behavioral)
  • Day vs. residential
  • How transitions back to public school work

Want to rate your public school or district on special education instead? See the school & district scorecards.