Life-Changing, Positive Results

“I learned how to think clearly for myself and make my own decisions, how to deal with stressful situations, build healthier and more realistic relationships, and function as part of a community. I wouldn’t have those skills if I hadn’t gone to the O-School.”

– O-School Alumni

While enrolled in the O-School, each child learns to experience a sense of accomplishment through academic engagement, the cultivation of individual talents, and the building of lasting, healthy relationships. Together, these enable students to manage real lives, both at the School and beyond. The vast majority of students experience significant change, so they can re-engage the world with mastery and confidence.

Based on the last two years of discharge data from the O-School’s Residential Program, 91% of students transition to a less restrictive setting upon graduation from the program. That typically means they either go home to live with their families while completing high school, or they begin post-secondary education at a two or four year college or university.

Long-Term Educational Outcomes

A long-term outcomes survey of O-School alumni conducted five years or more after leaving the School found that O-School students’ academic achievements compare favorably against both national averages for all students and for special education students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs).

Long-Term Mental Health and Relational Outcomes

In other areas of their lives, O-School alumni report that after 5 years:

94% required no substance abuse treatment
88% have held a job or been employed
86% have strong relationships and a viable social network
87% maintain close and significant relationships from the O-School

Considering the high-risk populations that the O-School serves, these outcomes confirm both the short and long term effectiveness of the School’s programs and services.