Specialized and Alternative Schools

This page is a work-in-progress.

To address the unique needs of students, PPS has schools with specific focuses, special supports, or alternative structures or types of teaching. The district refers to these schools as "Education Options.". These programs vary in purpose and the process for enrolling in each depends on the program. The following is a list of special programs and alternative schools in PPS. Note that this is not an exhaustive description of all services and supports offered for students who are TAG-identified or have IEPs or 504s, but rather a list of schools separate from the standard PPS school that a child would be enrolled in based on neighborhood. Neighborhood schools also offer some special programs and supports; see those pages for descriptions of additional programs that may be offered at the student's local school.

List of Specialized and Alternative Schools

Alliance High School

Alliance High School is an alternative high school in PPS designed to support students that would thrive in a more holistic and individualized academic setting. Alliance has both four day and five day programs and has a unique approach on earning credits with a goal towards helping students who may otherwise have trouble graduate high school. The school offers some self paced classes, small class sizes, and some career and technical education offerings that are aimed at preparing students for life after high school. Parents must attend an information session to apply for Alliance, but admission is based on an evaluation of the student's need for the environment that Alliance offers. Information for the enrollment process can be found on the school's website.

ACCESS Academy

ACCESS Academy is an alternative school serving grades 2-8 which provides advanced curriculum and special supports for students who are considered highly accelerated by the district. To be eligible for ACCESS, students must have scored in the 99th percentile on a nationally normed test. There are a variety of tests accepted by ACCESS, including the NNAT, OSAS, and MAP testing which are done by the district, but private testing for specific tests may also be acceptable. See this list for additional tests that are accepted to qualify on the ACCESS application. Students also must demonstrate a need for the ACCESS program based on their achievement, the degree to which they would benefit from an alternative program, and the student's exhibition of achievement in relationship to ability. The application for ACCESS becomes available in early spring of each year, and parents will need to submit eligible test results and an application to get entered in the lottery to attend ACCESS. There are generally more seats available in 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grade, but the school states that some seats are available in all grades every year. Information about the application and lottery can be found on the school's website.

DART School

DART K-12 is PPS' program for students who are in day or residential mental health treatment programs or are in the care of other state agencies. There are DART classrooms on various PPS campuses. Instruction is designed to be flexible, personalized, and holistic. The program works with mental health care agencies and attendance at DART K-12 requires participation in one of these treatment programs.

Metropolitan Learning Center K-12

The Metropolitan Learning Center is an alternative school designed in a liberal-arts style curriculum. The school has a holistic approach towards student-teacher relationships and as of 2018 did not offer grades but rather utilized a rating system that corresponds loosely to grade point scales. Enrollment at the school is based on a lottery which opens in November. Information regarding the lottery is accessible on the school's website.

Pioneer Special School Program

Pioneer is PPS' special education-centric school option, with one K-6 program, one 5-8 program, and four high school programs located at Benson High School, Cleveland High School, Wilson High School, and Youngson High School. These programs focus on being able to provide services in IEPs and tend to offer more individualized instruction to support students with behavioral and learning disabilities. Pioneer operates on a referral basis, but this can be initiated through contact with the school's team. Information on the enrollment process can be found on the school's website.