Need a N.O. Area School - special needs (New Orleans: home, live in)

[jbmc]

We live in Metairie and are looking for the right school for our now 12 yr old son. He was diagnosed as high functioning Autistic (PDD-NOS) at age 3. We moved to Metairie from New Orleans to enroll him at Rudolph Matas, but he was moved out of all special ed classes because he is high functioning. Unfortunately he has needs, and lost his help to the other more needy students.
We moved him to a nearby Catholic School, where he has progressed, with a tremendous amount of input by my wife with the school, and tag teaming each other with the mountain of homework he now gets as a 6th grader. My wife was told by his teacher(s) that this school is not the place for him to continue (usually 30 students per class). He has twin siblings at the same school with no learning problems, one year behind.
We were directed to St. Francis Xavier, but they are full for 7th grade next year. Our son should flourish in a smaller class, where a little extra attention will make a world of a difference.
Any help is appreciated.

[rgreenkrb]

Based on your description, I'm guessing he’s currently at St. Catherine. If you are willing go Uptown, I’d recommend checking into St. George’s Episcopal.

[Micktooth]

I'm sorry to hear about your problems. We have an 11yo daughter with special needs. She started at Matas but we switched to Hazel Park in River Ridge. The services she was receiving were adequate. After Katrina, we realized that we would never get the eduacation or services she would need in New Orleans. As you know, it wasn't great before Katrina and it is even worse after Katrina. We thought long and hard and we decided to get out. We now live near Boulder Colorado and it is totally amazing. The educational system here is good and the services we are getting are better than we ever had. I'm not telling you to move, but you might want to think about your family's future and figure out , is NO the right place for you and your family. There is a much better life out there. Good luck and don't give up.

[tiffanyburns]

My daughter needs special attention from school, but most don't see it as a need because she is high functioning autistic, which means that many fail to get the services because that are not server enough to get the resources that are mandated by the state. I am currently home schooling my daughter, I have become fed up with a system that has no resolution in mind for children like mine.