Specialty School

The Specialty School

The mission of Overlake Specialty School is to promote students’ academic, social, emotional and behavioral growth in order to help them attain the learning abilities and behaviors necessary for success in the classroom.

The Specialty School is a unique program coordinated with school districts, community service providers, families and others to meet the special needs of students in grades one through 12.

The school is a Non-Public Agency approved through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This credential allows our program to contract directly with public schools to provide services necessary to meet the individual needs of each student. Overlake Specialty School is committed to active partnerships with school districts, serving as an optional placement for districts when they have exhausted their resources for students who are behaviorally and emotionally challenged.

Who we are

The Specialty School is affiliated with Overlake's Psychiatric Services. We are staffed with certified special education teachers, behavior intervention specialists, para-educators, instructional assistants, certified therapeutic recreation specialists, master's level health counselors and an active management team.

How the Specialty School can help

Each student comes to the Specialty School with different life experiences, dispositions and learning histories. We provide a therapeutic environment where students learn functional, social, academic and behavioral skills by direct instruction and hands-on experience through healthy relationships with adults and peers.

Specialty School goals

To provide students with consistency and a sincere attitude to help establish trust and respect.
To teach students the skills necessary to regulate and monitor their own behavior consistent with social norms.
To enhance student self esteem and positive social/emotional development.
To orient students toward successful relationships with authority figures.
To encourage the acquisition of skills needed for the successful transition from school to community.
To reintegrate students as soon as possible to the least restrictive school setting.
To provide support for the students’ families.
To offer a drug-free and safe environment.