Academy360 Upper School

Our Upper School campus in Livingston, NJ, serves students aged 14–18.

Academy360 Upper School

Academy360 Upper School is an NJ State Board of Education Approved Private School for students 14 through age 18 with autism and related challenges. Our curriculum emphasizes academics, incorporating real-world experiences and life and social skills training to support students in all areas of development.

We build on foundational skills while focusing on the specialized support services, strong academics, life skills and career development services students need. With the addition of special areas including art, music and video production, as well as sports and enrichment clubs, Academy360 Upper School students discover a community that’s right for them.

We also provide services for students who need a more traditional self-contained classroom environment.

Related & Specialized Services

Academy360 provides Related Services in accordance with each of our students’ IEPs, including Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy. Additional services include Supplemental Reading, Behavioral Therapies and Counseling.

Our team of therapists, specialists, behaviorists and clinicians work together to determine the right plan of action to best serve each student’s individual needs and personality.

Speech Therapy

Offered to students who require this service as part of their IEP.

Communication related challenges vary from student to student. By focusing on teaching our students to communicate utilizing the methods best suited to their own unique abilities, we’re able to provide the right tools for them.

Conducted in individual and group sessions in accordance with a student’s IEP requirements, our services target skills in expressive, receptive and pragmatic language, as well as oral motor and feeding. Speech and Language Therapists are part of each classroom’s support team.

Upper School Speech and Language Therapists have training in several specialized approaches to intervention and/or certification in multiple specialized approaches of treatment, including Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and programming/implementation of various speech generating devices and applications. (Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, GoTalkNow, etc.)

Occupational and Physical Therapy

Offered to students who require this service as part of their IEP.

By assessing each student’s needs in the areas of motor development, coordination, visual motor skills, sensory processing and self-help, our therapists support activities that help students engage purposefully in their day. Whether in our therapy offices, multi-sensory rooms, in the classroom or out in the community, these activities include:

Social skills
Writing
Behavior management and self-regulation
Play skills
Sports and exercise
Self-help skills
Pre-vocational skills
And more

Behavioral Supports (BID)

Our behavioral support team provides hands-on coaching, modeling and feedback to classroom staff in applying Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) principles. Fully staffed with over two dozen Behavior Analysts, Assistant Behaviorists and department assistants, our teams collaborate across both campuses to ensure that supports are successfully carried over as students transition from the Lower to Upper School.

Parents are an integral part of our team approach in assisting students at home and in the community with applying planned strategies. Our behaviorists provide support, resources and training for families at all stages of their child’s school-age life.

Clinical Services

Our clinician team, comprised of Certified School Psychologists, Social Workers and Counselors, are here to help students in need build self-esteem, develop independence and promote self-advocacy. By collaborating with our staff they establish immediate and long-term goals and deliver a variety of services including group and individual counseling; crisis response and family support groups.

Dr. Mark Faber, our school psychiatrist, is available to consult with your family, as well as make recommendations to best support your student.

Learn more about our Clinicians: An Alphabet Soup of Acronyms: What’s a Clinician Anyway?

Supplemental Reading

Supplemental Reading supports students in developing critical skills associated with reading. This reading intervention program is based on referral, assessment and determination of need.

Life Skills

In addition to the traditional and functional academics of our school programs, our curriculum, electives, extracurricular activities and related services all incorporate real world lessons necessary for independence. We aim to provide our students with the essential skills to live their lives to the fullest.

Students on a class trip purchasing drinks at a coffee shop.

Our Daily Living Skills curriculum covers:

Personal Appearance and Hygiene
Housekeeping Skills
Meal Planning and Preparation
Money Management
Safety
Leisure
Community Service
Self-advocacy

In our Life Skills apartment, students practice steps of daily life — from preparing meals to washing and putting away clothes. The apartment also serves as a natural environment for hygiene instruction and other lessons taught by therapists at the school.

Through Community-Based Instruction (CBI), class trips, respite and other outings, our students practice skills in real-world settings, taking part in experiences enjoyed by peers at traditional schools. Community-Based Work Experience (CBWE) and pre-vocational training prepare them for the next steps as they mature.

Learn more about Life Skills, CBI and CBWE at Academy360:

Student Life

We provide our students with typical experiences found at all schools. Our activities help them interact with their peers in a relaxed social setting, encouraging them to create friendships and lasting memories — a central part of any childhood and adolescence.

Electives, Activities and Clubs

Students take part in elective coursework to develop skill sets in areas that interest them, including:

“The Little Mermaid” musical, starring Upper School students.

Electives

Arts & Crafts
Baking
Cooking
Free to be Me Club
Film/Photography
Gardening
Lego Club
Music & Dance
Pep Club
Puzzles & Games

Learn about Music Therapy at A360: New Music is Playing at Academy360

Activities

Basketball
Cheerleading
Class Trips

Clubs
Students participate in weekly enrichment clubs that rotate across the year, including:

Music Mashup
Arts & Crafts
Games & Puzzles
Fitness
Photography
Book Club
Robotics
And more

After School Program

For an additional cost, students can take part in after-school activities both on and off campus. Our After School Program offers students the opportunity to engage in a variety of high-interest activities and provides opportunities for socialization with their peers. Activities vary from term-to-term, and have included yoga, tennis, Zumba, hiking, Theatre for Everyone (Paper Mill Playhouse) and more.

Respite

Our Respite program offers students age 10 and up an overnight social experience with peers under the careful supervision and support of our staff. Students enjoy a day trip to a local destination, prepare meals together and sleep over in our fully-equipped Life Skills Apartment. Participants learn to apply social, self-help and communication skills — and have fun!

In the past, students have enjoyed trips to Monster Golf, Turtleback Zoo, Jumpnasium and Papermill Playhouse, to name a few.

Adaptive Physical Education

Adapted Physical Education is physical education made appropriate for a student’s specific capabilities and limitations. Federal law mandates that physical education be provided to students with disabilities and defines Physical Education as the development of:

Physical and motor skills
Fundamental motor skills and patterns (throwing, catching, walking, running, etc)
Skills in aquatics, dance, and individual and group games and sports (including intramural and lifetime sports)

Our facilities include:

Exercise equipment
Gymnasium
Outdoor PE facilities
Physical Therapy rooms

Learn more about our teachers: Meet our Teachers: Sports & Fitness at Academy360

Technology

All of our classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology resources.

We have a 1-1 device program and students can receive an iPad and/or laptop for school use.

Desktop computers, iPads, and handheld devices are used to deliver individualized and differentiated curricular instruction and learning assessments for each student.

We have Promethean Boards in each classroom for curriculum delivery in group and individual instruction.

Instructional staff are trained in the appropriate use of these devices and associated instructional software, and also when and how best to deploy them with students.

Extended School Year

For continuity during the month of July, students can participate in our Extended School Year (ESY) program. Students receive a full day of instruction to help maintain the academic, social/emotional, behavioral and pre-vocational growth achieved during the regular school year.

From swimming and hiking, to our annual and much anticipated S360 Sports Day/Field Day, the ESY opportunity exposes students to different opportunities.

Parents receive information regarding the upcoming ESY program before the end of Spring term.

Parent-Staff Organization

Be in the Know with PSO – PSO360!

PSO360 (Parent Staff Organization) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose objective and/or goal is to fundraise, support and sponsor events for the learners, families and staff and of Academy360 programs. All families are encouraged and invited to join! PSO360 sponsors many events both on and off campus throughout the school year, including, but not limited to dances, staff appreciation luncheon and more!

Membership to PSO360 has many benefits. It allows all members to participate, provide input and vote at monthly PSO meetings, as well as early access to events and opportunities to volunteer and join various committees in the hopes of enhancing every learner’s experience at Academy360 and Path360.

Join us and donate TODAY: https://pso360.wildapricot.org/

This is my second year in the YAP. I’m learning a lot in my social skills class, like how to communicate in a work environment and in the community. I feel more self-confident now…more comfortable being myself.

Sam E., YAP Student

Due to Academy360’s dedicated staff, Joseph has made steady progress since day one. Their hard work and expertise have helped develop Joseph’s academic, social, speech, problem solving, and pre-vocational skills.

Al Silver, Parent

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Is Academy360 the right place for you? Find out how to schedule a tour, meet our leaders and contact us.

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