The New Miriam Academy Breaks Down Barriers for Teens with Learning Disabilities

The transition to the hallways of high school can be an adjustment for any incoming freshman. But for a teen with a learning disability, sensory issue or social challenge, the shift can be overwhelming.

Even if a school has an incredible support team on staff, the large classrooms, escalating pressures and one-size-fits-all curriculum create barriers to learning and threaten the student’s chance to thrive.

This fall, Miriam Academy, an innovative new high school for teens with learning disabilities, will open its doors to a class of intelligent, curious and eager young minds. Thanks to its inventive, individualized learning environment and 60 years of experience behind it, Miriam will build on each student’s unique strengths and prepare him or her for a lifetime of success upon graduation.

Sixty years in the making

Since 1956, Miriam in Webster Groves has served as a school for students struggling with speech, language, motor, sensory, attention, academic, or social communication issues, helping them reach their full potential on their own terms.  Each year, its Miriam School serves 96 students in Pre-K through eighth grade while its Miriam Learning Center reaches another 800-plus students through its outreach programs in St. Louis charter schools and other local school districts.

The school has become renowned in the region for its comprehensive, individualized curriculum, small student/teacher ratio, and therapy services on site. But as eighth grade wound down each year, the graduating students became concerned about the next phase of their lives as they prepared to leave behind comfort and support of Miriam for a new, unfamiliar private or public school.

“High school is a big step for anyone,” said Andy Thorp, executive director of Miriam: The Learning Disability Experts. “But in these schools with 1,000, 2,000 students, a kid can quickly get swallowed up. And few schools offer the intense, one-on-one help Miriam has provided them all these years. These are smart, bright kids who excel when additional academic support is offered to them.”

With support from the Miriam Board of Directors, parents and the community, the organization has expanded its mission by establishing Miriam Academy, the first high school in the St. Louis area dedicated solely to goal-oriented students who have both learning disabilities and the drive to achieve the incredible.

According to Thorp, Miriam Academy provides a comprehensive and intensive academic curriculum and individualized education plans (IEP) tailored to each student’s particular needs. Each class is limited to a 10:1 student/teacher ratio with additional support provided by occupational, speech and language therapists as needed. In addition, Miriam integrates the latest learning technology, including a one-on-one laptop program, to enhance learning opportunities.

Through a multifaceted team approach, teachers, counselors and therapists work directly with students to help guide them toward the educational and occupational goals of their dreams, whether that’s a four-year college or a direct transition into a career or trade. Said Thorp, “Every person here is focused on helping each child excel, academically and socially, in the manner that’s best for them.”

In addition, Thorp and his staff are working closely with other schools and organizations in the region to provide kids with the same social opportunities as their peers. “We may not have a marching band, but by partnering with others, we’ll still have the extracurricular activities that fit our kids’ diverse interests to be sure they have a typical high school experience.”

Miriam Academy is currently enrolling its inaugural freshman class for the 2016/2017 school year. To ensure a successful launch, the first year is limited to 10 students. Thorp noted Miriam’s goal is to add additional grades each year and reach 50 students within the next five years.

While a physical location has yet to be announced, Thorp remarked it will provide an ideal learning environment for students and be centrally located for families. In addition, Miriam is currently seeking accreditation through the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and working with the Department of Education and local universities to ensure the curriculum meets all requirements needed to advance to college programs.

Tuition for the year is $28,000 per child, but need-based assistance is available to families who qualify. To apply for enrollment, parents can contact Rhonda Broussard at rbroussard@miriamstl.org or at 314-776-4410.

“Miriam Academy is really meeting an unmet need in the community,” remarked Thorp. “The lack of high schools dedicated to kids with learning disabilities isn’t just a local issue, it’s a regional issue.  With Miriam School’s experience behind us, I feel we’re the organization that can make a difference for these kids.”

For more information on Miriam Academy, visit www.miriamacademy.org.

_{Photo courtesy of Miriam Academy}