A true hidden gem for the community! We found this school for our daughter three years ago and changed our lives forever! She is flourishing where in public schools was left out and behind. I vouch for this school and, if you're struggling finding the right place for your child, give them a try! Don't just submit the application when you apply - go and meet the people, do a "shadow day", and engage. read more

This school is doing the Lords work. I am so thankful and grateful to have my son be enrolled at New Way Academy. The entire staff is phenomenal from The teachers all way down to the security guard. Most importantly my son loves it. He said so the other day when I picked him up from school. He said that he is so happy that he gets to go to New Way Academy because it's the best school that he's ever been to. We haven't had one bad experience since we've been here. GOD bless New Way Academy. read more

New Way Academy - New Way Academy - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This school is supposed to help kids that have "difficulties learning in a traditional school setting". Yet for Admission they will review the child on paper and decline without compassion or meeting the kids. My son was rejected because he was cognitively too far behind according to test scores (that even the test administers stated is not a good reflection of him). Here is a shocking fact, he has "difficulties learning in a traditional school setting". New Way Academy is school that specializes in helping non-traditional students yet reviews kids in a very traditional way. Please improve the Admission process. read more

We apply 2 years ago. We did contacted the person in charge of our sons application, but we never have any respond. I believe this is unprofessional the way they do it, Specially when they charging for the application. We call over the phone several times and the lady told us they will call back to see what other papers we need... they never call us. Last time we spoke with them was on April this year. We felt like they did not take the time to read our son's information. This school was recommended by Dr. Smith (psychologist) Good look applying for this school! read more

I am a public school teacher who chose to send my son to New Way Academy because he had always struggled in public school. New Way is a great place socially for marginalized students. My son flourished socially at New Way - it is a smaller environment than public schools, students can participate in any activity and/or sport, and students and faculty are accepting of "differences" of everyone. Academically, it is a different story. My son never had homework, despite asking teachers to assign it. The teachers were below average, as is typical in private schools because they pay less. Additionally, the staff and directors have terrible communication skills - emails and phone calls are ignored frequently. The school often promises what it can't deliver. My son took the "college prep" track his senior year, with promises from the school that they would help him with his English 101 class at Scottsdale Community College. They also promised that they "hand-picked" the professor to work well with students with learning challenges. The professor was a nightmare, and the school did NOT assist my son with his work for the class. My husband and I had to spend countless hours assisting him with his work. As he graduated, my son could not even write a complete paragraph. I would not recommend this school if your child is able to function in a public school - although it is wonderful socially, it does not prepare students for after graduation. read more

Great school, caring teachers with a diverse curriculum as well as numerous after school sports and activities. We have been part of the New Way family for over 12 years (our daughter graduated in 2018 and is currently attending NAU & our son is a Sophomore in high school.) Even after all these years we continue to be impressed with the way each student is taught the way they learn and most importantly how to believe in themselves. read more

I can't say enough good things about this school! It changed my son's life. My son is dyslexic, was in fifth grade in public school and after 3 years of special ed still couldn't read. They were done even trying to teach him to read and were going to send him on to sixth grade with support in the classroom. They told me not everyone learns to read. I enrolled him at New Way for sixth grade. He has completed the Wilson program and will graduate from NW in 2020. Not only did they teach him to read, but he has learned to advocate for himself. He knows his strengths and weaknesses, how he learns best and he has learned to use several types of assistive technologies. He finally has confidence and he knows he will have to work harder, but he can do anything he sets his mind to. Everyone from the principals, the teachers to the secretaries go above and beyond to help the kids in anyway they can socially and academically. The price tag will take your breath away- but Thank God for scholarships and the AZ tax credits! New Way is worth every penny! Never ever give up! read more

My son is on the autism spectrum, and has ADHD and dyslexia. We've tried several schools for him over the years and have watched him become frustrated, withdrawn, and agitated. A year ago I got a report card from a teacher stating it was just hard to teach him because he gave up too easily. That wasn't the child I saw at home, but as the performance gap between my son and his typical peers widened, I was starting to get pretty concerned about his future. We wanted him to learn but we also wanted him to feel empowered in his life, instead of thinking school was some kind of elaborate torture system. Enter New Way Academy. When he came home from touring the school he talked about what an amazing place it was. The thing he said over and over was, "Do you know why their mascot is the bulldog? Because bulldogs have a lot of friends." New Way has a whole-child approach to schooling. My son learns practical life skills like how to read social cues and organize his things (SO critical for a kid on the spectrum!) but he has also improved more in reading in half a year than in the two previous years before we made the switch. The extracurricular instructors/coaches all have experience working with kids with learning differences, and the whole vibe of the school is about empowerment. My son who used to cry about going to school now can't wait to get back from long weekends and holiday breaks. Family members from out of state who hadn't seen him for a few months were shocked by how much better he's doing--academically, socially, and in his own self-confidence. Thank you, New Way! We feel so lucky to have found you. read more

We highly recommend the school. Our son's confidence in himself and his ability to learn grew exponentially. The teachers and staff are involved and responsive. In particular, Abbey Ross and Michael Walker always had time to answer our questions. They also made time to get to know the students individually, which our son really appreciated. The school hosts informational programs to make sure parents understand what students are studying as well as social activities so parents can get to know each other. The school's online communication system was another huge plus for our family. We knew exactly how our student was doing and where we could help him on any given day. New Way will always be a part of our family. You put our son on the path to success. Thank you, New Way! read more

Putting our kids (Autism, ADHD, etc.) in New Way was the BEST decision we ever made. The classroom sizes are small and their OT/ST is built right into their day as much as they need. We don't have to have private therapies outside of school anymore and that has helped our kids have time in their day to... just be kids. The staff is amazing. They really do care about our kids and will do whatever they have to, to help. We have never had to fight over services or classroom adaptations like we did in the public school setting. For the first time in our life - IEP meetings are so pleasant! Everyone pulls together to see what the CHILD needs, not what is going to be best for the teachers or the budget. New Way has a tight nit close family feel that we really have loved. There is a real sense of community, because well, we as parents have all been through it before. New Way has literally turned my kids around. They are able to learn, just like we knew they could. They are teaching our kids in a way that they can understand and still have them keep up academically with typical kids their age. Our kids are making friends for the first time in their life. AND because all the children have some sort of issue in the school, there is virtually no bullying. If you have a special needs child or a child with learning differences, give New Way a look! As a mom with 3 kids with special needs, I am so grateful to know that their whole academic career from Kindergarten through High School graduation is being taken care of with the utmost educational standards and care. read more

Such an amazing school. We are so thankful to be able to send our kids to NWA. The teachers are so incredibly kind and passionate.

We love this school! My daughter was diagnosed mid-semester with learning difference and we searched for a school that could accommodate her learning needs. We couldn't be more pleased and excited by the progress she has made in 2.5 years at New Way. Teachers and administrators collaborate across my daughter's classes to continuously adjust and reassess how she is doing. The school's culture is warm, encouraging and accepting. read more

Our son was diagnosed with dyspraxia at age 3 with his speech/language, fine-motor and visual-processing skills being most affected. Over the next few years, we burned through several preschools, including our public school's special education program and a private preschool that was recommended by a child psychologist. It was extremely frustrating because we knew our son had so much more potential than what he displayed in a classroom setting. It was eventually discovered that he also has auditory processing difficulties and additional attention issues. Despite years of therapies and constant schooling (no summer breaks so that he could "catch up"), we knew he wouldn't be successful in the average Kindergarten classroom. As a former fifth-grade teacher, my biggest concern was that our son would eventually shut down due to the anxiety and defeat he'd most-likely endure in a typical school environment. I spent a full year touring and interviewing public school programs, charter schools and private schools all over the East Valley. Tour after tour, I walked away feeling like there was no place where our child "belonged." It was an incredibly alienating & hopeless feeling. We'd heard about New Way through other parents and child professionals so it was actually one of the first schools we toured. It was very evident to us that New Way had a caring, nurturing environment and that they understood children with processing differences/difficulties. However, there was uncertainty as to whether or not they would have a Kindergarten program for 2013/2014. As we struggled to find a suitable Plan B, we toured New Way two more times in desperate hopes they'd accept our son. I literally burst into tears at the car dealership when receiving the call from Samantha, Director of Admissions, who told me "New Way exists to teach children like our son" and that there was a place for him at the school. Now nearing the end of his Kindergarten year at New Way, our son absolutely loves going to school each and every day! He's made amazing progress in all areas and has developed precious friendships with his peers. Academically he's testing on grade-level and even beyond in some subjects. Through continued Speech & OT services he receives during the school day, as well as very small class sizes, strategic classroom modifications & brain-based curriculum, his areas of developmental delay are also progressing and improving. The Developmental Pediatrician who treats our son at Phoenix Children's Hospital has told us that every patient she's had, who attended New Way, made incredible gains developmentally and academically. We've received constant feedback & encouragement throughout the year from everyone: teachers, therapists and administrative staff. Not only do teachers & staff respond promptly to questions or concerns, but they've often initiated communication and conversation about our son's development/progress. No more wondering what's really going on in the classroom! Lastly, New Way has a very special, community feeling. Even though our son is only a Kindergartener, much of the staff and fellow students in all grade-levels know who he is and everyone is respectful of one other. For the most part, the Upper School is segregated from the Lower School but there are opportunities for interaction between all grade levels at school-wide events and supervised morning recess time. Our son thinks he's a rock star when a 5th, 8th or high school students acknowledges him with a "Hey Dude!", or "What's up?" A New Way education is expensive, but there are ways to subsidize the cost through AZ Student Tuition Organizations who award scholarships or an Empowerment Scholarship for certain qualified individuals. I guarantee that a New Way education for students who learn differently is priceless! read more

If you feel dismissed, lost, frustrated, marginalized and furious with the school and the education system of which your child is a member you are not alone. We've been there. As with most parents of children with ADHD, we were actively involved in our child's education and worked vigorously with the school to ensure our child was being provided the education that all children deserve and we as parents expect. No matter how much, how often and how hard we pressed the results were the same -- Too many kids, too many different issues, too little resources and too little time. This was not and should not be an acceptable response from any educator and it propelled us into action to find a place where our son would get what he needs without the excuses and the constant struggle between school, student and parent. The answer was New Way Academy. After exhaustive research and visits to numerous schools it was clear from the first communication with New Way that they were different. Their understanding of our son's challenges and needs as well as his skills and aspirations made it clear that New Way would provide him with an education from which he will be able to realize his dreams and ensure that he will be prepared to embrace any opportunity which may present itself to him later in life. At New Way we never hear "Too many kids, too many different issues, too little resources and too little time." The class sizes -small, the issues - focus on a narrow range of challenges, the resources - quality teachers and advanced methods enhanced by the latest in education, and time - not an issue with the proper use of class size, resources and teacher skill level. At New Way your child comes first and his education is paramount. The most importantly part of our son's experience at New Way is that he now comes daily to a healthy, loving, compassionate, embracing and caring community in which he is welcomed and in which he is thriving. And, even his love for sports is welcomed at New Way where he is involved in basketball, soccer and is looking forward to new fall and football. He is becoming the well rounded student that we all knew he could be. Find your way to New Way and you too can discover all that your child can and should be. read more

I am getting wonderful grades. I am thankful for this school and how it is helping me succeed so far. I hope it continues to do that. I want to say there are sweet people and I am glad to have met them. The teachers are very sweet as well. I am proud of myself for behaving better than I did at my previous school. I think New Way has brought me a gift and it is helping me a lot and helping me survive. I hope to attend and graduate from there and get to know the people better and better and us to have a relationship. read more

What a school! New Way is an exemplary model for teaching to and with the individual child. Children with learning differences can truly call New Way "home" as the teachers, staff, and administrators are committed to the growth and progress of each and every student. The environment is optimal for learning with sensory friendly classrooms where differences are celebrated, teaching methods/curriculum are state of the art, expectations are set high, and students feel valued. It's been the biggest blessing for my son who has attended since 7th grade and is now in high school. He is challenged academically at a level appropriate to his development, enjoys after school sports, and has developed long-lasting friendships. Based on this rating system of five stars, I'd give it a 6. Thank you, New Way! read more

My son is in the elementary school at New Way. When he started there, he lacked self-confidence, as he had struggled for so long in the traditional classroom environment. Through teaching methods tailored specifically to my son, he is now a happy/confident little guy! The teachers and staff are absolutely wonderful - we couldn't be any happier with his progress! read more