P R I D E School

The **PRIDE School**, located in Oak Lawn, Illinois, is a specialized therapeutic day school operated by the AERO Special Education Cooperative. It is designed to serve students with significant emotional and behavioral disabilities who require a more supportive and structured environment than what is typically available in a general education setting. The school focuses on a "therapeutic-first" approach, integrating intensive social-emotional learning and clinical support with academic instruction to help students develop the coping skills and behavioral regulation necessary for success.

The program is highly individualized, utilizing a multidisciplinary team—including teachers, social workers, psychologists, and therapists—to address the unique needs of each student. By maintaining small class sizes and a low student-to-staff ratio, the PRIDE School aims to reduce academic barriers while fostering a safe, consistent atmosphere. The ultimate goal of the institution is to provide students with the stability and therapeutic tools needed to improve their social functioning and, whenever possible, successfully transition back to their home school districts.