Polaris Academy
Arizona's Premier Autism Academy
Polaris Autism Academy / Empowering Neurodiverse Students
Meet our Award Winning Staff
Polaris is complemented by an award-winning school administrator and staff with decades of experience and accolades raising the bar for autism education.
Renovated to minimize distractive sensory stimuli
Discover our state-of-the-art school, meticulously designed and renovated to incorporate cutting-edge architectural standards. Our focus is on creating a learning environment that minimizes sensory stimuli, fostering concentration and comfort for students with autism and sensory challenges. Experience the benefits of our tailored approach to education, proven to enhance academic growth and development.
BCBA, Speech, Occupational, and Physical therapists
Our expert team of BCBA’s, Speech, and other therapy trained school specialists are dedicated to your child’s success through active collaboration with parents, teachers, and outside providers. Together we craft a personalized approach to education and development, enhancing critical learning and communication skills for optimal student growth and success.
Tailored Learning: Specialized Programs at Polaris Autism Academy
Explore our adaptive curriculum model, seamlessly integrating ABA and other behavior techniques. Our facility features an innovative S.T.E.M. environment, Culinary center, Student Business center, and Intentional Play gym tailored to nurture key life skills, instill self-confidence, and Empower students towards greater independence. Join us at the forefront of autism education.
Managing a child with autism or other neurodivergent conditions can be a challenge, so when it came time to put our son into school we knew there would be hurdles. Our local elementary school was highly rated and we quickly fell in love with the teachers, administration, and convenient location.
The public school provided every resource they could for our son and sincerely wanted to help him succeed. But the challenge was that this school, and its curriculum, was designed for typical kids. No matter how hard our son worked or how much help he received, his measurement and perception of success was overshadowed by the progression of peers around him. He was having success at a rate that was great for him, but in contrast to his classmates it seemed as if he was failing.
Next, we tried home-schooling which was amazing, frustrating, rewarding, and exhausting all at the same time. Autistic children really do require a village of specialists, therapists, and educators, and I did my best to provide him tutors and therapists to meet his needs. But managing the schedules across so many disciplines became complicated and extremely expensive. Recreating the support system provided in school was just not feasible, and although I love working with my son, trying to wear all of those different hats on my own did not work out to his favor or mine. Combine that with missed opportunities for socialization and we knew we needed to find a more specialized school for our son.
We tried a number of private schools that we thought might be a good match. We were excited our son was having good peer interactions with children more like him, but other issues arose. Some were reluctant or unable to change or adopt different teaching methods to better suit his needs, others did not have added resources for speech, ABA, or other therapies. And some that appeared to have everything we needed unfortunately had no more room for our son. So we were left with the decision to either continue home-schooling while we waited for an opening in a preferred school, place him in a school that was still not meeting his needs…. or start our own school.
That’s when Polaris Academy was born. Schooling for autistic children shouldn’t be a challenge, it should be an opportunity. So our task was to create a school where neurodivergent children could relate, socialize, and thrive in an environment physically designed for focused learning, academically designed to be flexible and promote out-of-the box thinking, and filled with professionals driven by a passion for our students instead of mandated goals and standards. Our vision was fortunately shared by our founding group and with their collective efforts our dream has now become a reality. We are so excited to share what we have learned, developed and created with you and your children and hope you will let us be a part of your amazing journey.
Why Polaris
Why Polaris
Polaris is the brightest star within the Little Dipper constellation, also called Ursa Minor meaning "the Little Bear" thus our mascot - "Bears". It is known as the North Star, or Pole Star, because of its stable and fixed position in the northern sky.
Used throughout history for navigation, Polaris has shined as a constant and reliable light for those sailing the seas, traversing barren deserts, and charting a course through the unknown. As a symbol, Polaris is used in poetry to represent steadfastness, a guiding principle, a constant guide, and is often associated with direction and purpose. Though appearing to the naked eye as a single point of light, Polaris is actually a triple star system combining the light of three stars to shine brightly in the night.
We couldn't select a better symbol for our school. Our hope, our vision, is for Polaris Academy to be a stable and reliable resource for parents and children, helping to chart and navigate through life's journey towards a more purposeful, independent, and fulfilling future. Polaris Academy stands as a symbol of steadfastness in learning, a constant guide for education and growth. And by combining the experience of our professionals, resources of our community, and unique talents and strengths of our students and parents, Polaris Academy will shine brightly and light a path of success, joy, and confidence for all our little, bright "stars".
Vision
VISION
Our vision is for Polaris Academy to be a foundational education and life resource upon which children, parents, and the community can build a better future for those with autism and other neurodiversity conditions.
We will educate and empower: i) our students to discover and act upon their diverse potential, ii) our parents to engage as trusted partners, iii) our professionals with adaptive tools to manage and accomplish social, academic, and behavioral goals, and iv) our community on the unique talents, strengths and opportunities our students can contribute socially, professionally, and beyond.
Polaris Academy will become more than a school, it will grow to become a living community of students, parents, and professionals working together to craft a culture of unity, belonging, discovery, and self-worth.
Mission
Mission
Our mission for Polaris Academy is to EMPOWER parents and students by creating academic and social resources to NAVIGATE autistic and other neurodivergent children towards a more purposeful, independent, and fulfilling future.
Our flexible education model combines grade level standards with individualized and comprehensive goals to promote student strengths, acknowledge student limitations, and ELEVATE each child to reach their full potential. By combining the experience of our school professionals, the dedication and unique talents of parents and children, and the resources of our community, Polaris Academy will propel its students on a path to greater joy, confidence, and achievement.
Discover the Polaris Difference: Arizona's Leading Autism Academy
Transformative Integrated Therapy Model
Our expert team of BCBA’s, Speech, and other therapy trained school specialists are dedicated to your child’s success through active collaboration with parents, teachers, and outside providers. Together we craft a personalized approach to education and development, enhancing critical learning and communication skills for optimal student growth and success. Come experience this wholistic approach that we believe will become the leading standard for autism education.
Cutting-Edge Autism & Sensory School Design
Polaris Academy campuses are designed using newly developed architectural standards for autism aimed at minimizing sensory stimuli while promoting a more focused and comforting learning environment proven to optimize academic growth in autistic and sensory challenged students. This intentional approach to design features: unique sensory coves, soft and natural palette tones, adaptive lighting, integrated musicscapes, transom windows, and hallway transition zones to create a school that’s more than a school, it’s a home for our students
Unlock Free Tuition | Leading Autism Academy in Arizona
Experience affordable education at Polaris Academy, Mesa, AZ. With Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), Scholarship from Tuition Organizations (STOs), and private organizations, most parents incur minimal expenses. Join our nurturing environment and unlock your child's potential without financial strain.
Enrolling Now / Schedule a Tour Today
Secure your child’s future at Arizona’s premier autism academy. Enrollment is ongoing and we accept mid-year enrollments. Polaris Academy is currently located in East Mesa near Power and the US 60 with plans to expand to more locations across Arizona soon. Please contact us to answer any questions or schedule a tour of our wonderful facility: (480)-903-1710 / [email protected].
Contact Us / Schedule a Tour
Interested in learning more about Polaris Academy?
Contact us now to secure your child’s spot at our leading autism academy. Enrollment is open and ongoing. Don’t miss this opportunity to provide specialized education and development for your child.