The mission of Palm Beach School for Autism is to provide innovative education and behavioral support to empower individuals with autism.
The notion of a school focused on the needs of children with autism was a dream back in 1996 when one teacher and one assistant taught a classroom of six preschool children in St. Mary’s Hospital. The program developed into a school and grew rapidly due to a need in the community for services specific to children with autism. The program was relocated to the campus of AG Holly Hospital where more preschool classes were added and an elementary program was launched. The growth continued with the opening of the middle school program. In 2012, the school moved into a brand new building. Shortly thereafter, the high school program opened.
After investing years into educating our students, we needed to prepare them for adulthood, and Project Next was born. We provide on-site and community training through partnerships with local businesses. The Project Next space on-campus features our Duffy’s Training Kitchen where trainees learn every aspect of working in a restaurant. Our commercial washer/dryer and mock hotel room teach trainees about the hotel/hospitality industry. We also have a workroom for our partnership with All-Tag and students prepare security tags.
What We Do
Palm Beach School for Autism is a tuition-free public charter school serving children from age 3-21 throughout South Florida with autism spectrum disorder. We address the learning needs of the students we serve through individual education plans, a highly trained teaching staff and a focus on independence. We have a team of therapists including Speech & Language, Occupational, Physical and Behavioral therapies which are integrated into the daily programs. In addition to an academic education, children are schooled in the arts, technology, wood-shop, French, physical education, vocational programming, community-based instruction, social skills and daily living skills.