What categories of special education are served at New Vistas School?

New Vistas School is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education to serve students identified with:

• Specific Learning Disabilities (including Dyslexia)
• Other Health Impairment (including AD/HD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (high-functioning only)
• Emotional an d Behavioral Disorders (primarily anxiety)
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Intellectual Disabilities
• Speech Language Impairment (as secondary disability only)

Is tuition assistance available?

Yes. Approximately 80% of NVS students receive some tuition assistance.

What instructional methods are used?

• NVS uses principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach.
• Experiential learning is a major focus.
• NVS teachers take students “Beyond the Walls” as often as possible, to enhance and supplement classroom instruction.

What about art and music?

• NVS encourages building on strengths and talents as well as remediating deficits;
• New Vistas offers art and music as enrichment classes.

Are teachers licensed/endorsed in special education?

• All Lower School teachers are endorsed in special education.
• Upper School teachers are endorsed in their content area and several are also endorsed in special education.

How long do students attend?

• That decision is based on each child’s individual needs. Some students stay through to graduation;
• other students transition back to public or another private school after building skills and strategies.

How many students attend NVS?

• Enrollment is capped at 45 students.

What type(s) of diploma does NVS award?

• Standard Diploma
• Applied Studies

Can students complete their college prep requirements at NVS?

• Yes

Do colleges and universities accept an NVS diploma?

• Yes. Some students choose to attend community college for two years and then transfer to a more competitive four-year college.

• Colleges initially requiring a two-year foreign language requirement may not accept the NVS diploma, though many accept a waiver due to an identified language learning disability.

Do NVS graduates go to college?

Accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, NVS provides a rigorous college preparatory curriculum to those who choose to pursue such. Qualifying NVS students have enrolled for dual enrollment credit at Central Virginia Community College when appropriate. NVS graduates have attended such post-graduate education as:

• Brown University
• Bard College
• Central Virginia Community College
• Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA)
• Hampden-Sydney
• Johnson and Wales
• Liberty University
• Lynchburg College
• Marshall University
• Miller Motte
• Randolph College
• College of William & Mary