Special Education at Diamond Ranch Academy

With incredibly small class sizes, one on one tutoring and a therapeutic learning environment, students with all abilities, including those with special needs, can thrive at DRA. Our model centers on the needs of each student supporting them with the accommodations and goals outlined in their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). These documents serve as the foundation of our focus with each student. We have special education credentialed staff and other teachers who work with the students to help them meet their goals.

Our approach is to empower students. We give them the tools to be successful and require them to work hard to meet expectations.

Approved as a Non-Public School in California, Washington, and Illinois.

Coordinated services for students with special needs from across the United States.

The Diamond Ranch Academy approach to schooling is innovative and addresses many common schooling challenges. DRA employs a self-paced mastery learning model for skill acquisition. This allows students to learn at their pace unfettered by the requirements of a teacher or classroom and the expectation is mastery. Skills that come later will be acquired more easily because mastery is expected at each step along the way. The focus is learning how to learn and assisting students on an individual basis.

In addition to skill acquisition, students work in small groups (5-8 students) to develop skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, critiquing, character development, and citizenship. The smaller groups allow students to interact closely with the teacher to receive needed support.