Admission Criteria

BENJAMIN ACADEMY Private School enrolls students who are independent learners of academics and life skills, where students can reach their full potential. We teach ethical and moral content in our academic and adaptive school programs.

Students are accepted and admitted with results obtained from parent/student interviews, assessment testing, teacher recommendations, and school records. There is no preference given to applicants who attend Benjamin Academy, nor siblings who attend the school. All candidates are evaluated with non-discrimination. Benjamin Academy is a private school which does not discriminate.

Prior to contacting us, please read information to understand students who are served in this small environment. Students are challenged academically and socially within each program provided, promoting full scale independence.

2024-2025 Academic & Functional Programs

Progams are designed to fit the needs of each student. We enroll students year-round, anytime of the academic school year.

**New - Transitional Kindergarten - A 'Bridge' from PreK to "Almost Ready"for Kindergarten**

Program qualifications for students who need more time of bridging the gap for Kindergarten Readiness. Assumes the same requirements as described with all program models regarding independence. Ages 5-6

Mainstream Regular Program by Academic Grade -[K-8]

Pioneer Programs by Functional Grade - [K-2]

PACE Program - 'Move On When Ready' students, grades K-8

STAR Program - designed for Functional Academic Support for Grades K-8

LEAP Program - designed for Transition and Post-High School Students K9-K12,includes Career Preparation and Job Coaching

Option 1 – Full Attendance, In-Class

Option 2 - Hybrid Attendance, In-Class for PACE & LEAP programs only

*STAR Students – Full Attendance for transitions to the classroom.

2024 -2025 Young Pioneers - In-Class Attendance M-F

Masks are required onsite ( for all K-12 programs - no exceptions)

2024 Dates to remember / Scholarship Info

2024 -2025 Rolling Admissions (we enroll year-round)

Rolling Admissions are based on space availability.

STAR program is first come-first serve with non-refundable $1800 reservation.

Tuition Options: FULL PAYMENT or MONTHLY installments, with interest.

Monthly installments are subject to 7% interest.

School Scholarships - We are partner with AAA, Apogee, and Arete ! Visit their links for more information.

**AAA Scholarship Information** https://www.aaascholarships.org/parents/georgia/

**Apogee Scholarship Information** https://youtu.be/GXCzhue9Gss

** Arete Scholarship Information** https://www.aretescholars.org/parents/

*** Open 2024 Registration for In-Person Assessments -All Programs PLEASE READ***

Please read FAQs and our "Step Process" for details regarding potential enrollment and how to get started.

1. Families should read the website for program, financial and scholarship information.

2. Contact Us! We will schedule a 15 minute call back to discuss enrollment.

3. Next steps to determine an in-person assessment and tour is scheduled.

All assessments, family appointments or other engagements are scheduled prior to arrival for an onsite visit for any student.

1:1 Assessments to begin student enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year includes a family tour during the scheduled onsite visit.

Applies to all programs for 2024-2025. STAR admission is OPEN for the 2024-2025 school year.

Traditional Model: In-Class Full Days per week

NEW The Bridge, Developmental PreK OPEN NOVEMBER for 2024-2025

Young Pioneer Program CLOSED for 2024-2025

STAR Program -OPEN for 2024-2025

LEAP Program (9-12) -OPEN for 2024-2025

P.A.C.E Program - CLOSED for 2024-2025

MainStream Program - OPEN for 2024-2025

Interested in Developmental Pre K for your child*?

**Our Newest Program for ages 4 to 6 - Candidacy into this program includes results from evaluations and onsite assessment. Students must display no behaviors of physical aggression to be enrolled in this program. *PARENT INTEREST FORM MUST BE COMPLETED TO INITIATE ENROLLMENT. Begins November 2024!

2024-2025 Tuition Fee Schedule *Accepting the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship* gac gac

$15,000/year – Based on 1:1 assessment of student, current psychological assessments, current educational reports, feedback of teachers/clinicians, and recommendations regarding supportive accommodations in a classroom setting, students may require specific interventions and often are able to manage independently with minimal prompts for assistance throughout a classroom day.

$18,000/year - Based on 1:1 assessment of student, current psychological assessments, current educational reports, feedback of teachers/clinicians, and recommendations regarding supportive accommodations in a classroom setting, students require significant support or interventions to aid throughout a classroom day. Students may be identified on clinical reports or assessments as Level II , in one or more areas of reporting, requiring multiple accommodations to achieve academic success.

Young Pioneers K - Tuition $12,000/year

Young Pioneers K (Half -Day ) Tuition $8,000/year

Foundational Tutoring -Separately billed from tuition

Transportation - Separately billed from tuition

*Scholarships do not cover 100% of tuition & associated costs of attending Benjamin Academy.

*Tuition does not include Matriculation fees. Uniforms, Lunches, Foundational Tutoring or Transportation are not included in scholarships, and are billed separately.

$500/year - Matriculation fee covers required assessments, state mandated annual pre & post testing, web-based curriculum subscriptions, and classroom based materials (student-specific supplies, adaptive manipulatives, sensory materials) for every student who attends Benjamin Academy.

2024 Young Pioneers 5-6 *Open Enrollment ROLLING ADMISSION**kg kg

Students must be age 5 to begin the 2024 Kindergarten school year.

We admit children anytime during the school year once they turn 5 years of age.

Age 5 class - Open for Admission for 2024

Age 6 class -Open for Admission for 2024

2024 Young Pioneers 5-6 *Inscripción abierta ADMISIÓN PERMANENTE*kg kg

Los estudiantes deben tener 5 años al comienzo del año escolar de jardín de infantes 2024.

Admitimos niños en cualquier momento durante el año escolar una vez que cumplan 5 años de edad.

Clase de 5 años - Abierta/ Abierto para la admisión

Clase de 6 años-Abierta/ Abierto para la admisión

Programs Offered at Benjamin Academy / Programas ofrecidos en Benjamin Academy

Prior to contacting the school, it is very important to understand the students who are served in this environment. Enrolled students are independent learners who are successful thriving in a smaller environment. Each student is academically challenged within our program, promoting full scale independence daily.

Behavior or Conduct - Currently we are unable to serve students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Behavior Intervention Plans, Oppositional Defiant Disorder or other Conduct Disorders.

BENJAMIN ACADEMY offers Enrichment Camps during various times of the school year. These camps provide age appropriate outings designed to challenge and engage students. Such outings include trips with arts and crafts, promoting team building, social skills engagements, Book Club meetings at the local library, and Coding sessions with mentoring partners.

IEP Goal Assessments - Students are monitored for goals based on previous IEP assessments. While our school reviews IEP annual goals of each student seeking enrollment, we consistently develop S.M.A.R.T goals for all students who attend Benjamin Academy. An example of a previous written IEP goal from another school might be "By the end of the school year, Student A will be able to rote count to 100". We will take the same goal, and apply the SMART concept -Specific. Measurable.Achievable.Realistic/Results driven.Timely. Goals are assessed daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly. Collectively, we can achieve the S.M.A.R.T Goal intended for each student at Benjamin Academy.

Accepting ages 5-21 - All students who attend school are required to have independent skills of eating, and proper use of bathroom with personal hygiene incorporated in their daily routine.

Young Pioneers - Half Day - Geared toward the youngest of the academic group, students get an introduction into what a "scheduled and structured" looks like. Working with learners to grow and achieve their maximum potential, students participation requires half-day attendance.

STAR Program- 1 on 2 Academic/Alternate pairing for children who are in transition. This pairing works on skills to help children move on, when ready. Typically this program is for Level I or II students, who need signficant Academic support, to be able to actively participate (independently) in a classroom setting, while remaining in a structured classroom daily- no exceptions. This program is for students who need significant academic or lifeskill support in a classroom environment that is structured, to achieve academic success. *Space reservation is included in tuition price. *STAR pricing tuition starts at $18,000 with Space Reservation that is non-refundable (Required)

Pre-Vocational Program- Benjamin Academy introduces a new pre-vocational program designed within our academic setting, for those students 16 age or older. We believe that life is 99% preparation, and that interview skills, job research and resume preparation are key steps to landing a student’s first job.

LEAP Program - Designed for students who are in transitional grades 9-12 who require basic foundational skills such as reading, writing, counting coins, and self-help. A new program designed to encourage and motivate students to a pathway of gainful employment.

Summer Camp- Open to any high functioning child who has independent use of eating, bathroom and hygiene. Children must have no behaviors in order to be considered for enrollment, and ultimately accepted to camp. Currently we are unable to serve students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Behavior Intervention Plans, Oppositional Defiant Disorder or other Conduct Disorders. Summer Camp is consistent with morning academics taught daily, incorporated with excursions to venues throughout Georgia.

Admission Process / Proceso de Admisión

Step 1:To prepare each family who may be interested in enrollment, please read and review the content posted on our website, Frequently Asked Questions, for clarity regarding children served at Benjamin Academy. If you would like to move forward, please call us to discuss enrollment of your child at BENJAMIN ACADEMY as well as schdedule a time via phone to begin the process of enrollment.

*Currently we are unable to serve students emerging in the areas of self-feeding and hygiene, students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Behavior Intervention Plans, Oppositional Defiant Disorder or other Conduct Disorders.*

☐ McDonough Campus: Ages 5-21 | Grades K - 12

Step 2: When you contact our office, you may be asked questions specific about your child's classroom, social setting and daily living. We will require submission of documents for review prior to scheduling the 1:1 Academic and (SEL) ASSESSMENT.
School reviews documents provided. Prior to scheduling the assessment, all fees must be paid. A non-refundable
☐ $125 Application Fee (for the 1:1 Assessment) must be paid.

Step 3: A parent/student interview, along with a testing/assessment onsite date is scheduled.
Staff will work to encourage parents to set a date to provide an observation of the student who may experience a regular day in the classrom.

Step 4: Assessment follows the signature and submission of forms:
Confidential Records Request form
School records/transcripts are required of all applicants for grades K - 12 who attended any public or private school the prior calendar year.

Teacher Recommendation forms to applicant's current school for completion and return to BENJAMIN ACADEMY
Mail to Admissions Director, 1840 Pennsylvania Avenue, McDonough GA 30253

A student's application will be considered complete when it contains the following documents:
☐ Copies of IEP, Psychological Evaluations (Current IEP, Evaluation within the past 12 months)
☐ Current year report card [Each Semester]
☐ Two current Teacher Recommendation forms
☐ Disciplinary records from their current school
☐ Parent Letter providing support in specific areas where we would support your child


Step 5: When a student's application file is complete it will be reviewed by the Admissions Board for acceptance.
Parents are notified of acceptance within 2 weeks of student testing and observation. A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required upon acceptance for space reservation for traditional admission within 7 business days of acceptance. A $750 non-refundable deposit is required upon acceptance for space reseration to the PACE and LEAP program within 7 business days. A $1800.00 non-refundable deposit is required upon acceptance for space reservation for STAR Students within 7 business days of acceptance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Benjamin Academy is currently accepting students for the 2024 - 2025 school year! BENJAMIN ACADEMY admits students without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities available to students at the school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, or other school administered programs.