Best Special Needs Schools in Lehighton, Pennsylvania (2026)

SAIL at Mahoning Valley Academy, part of BHA, serves students ages 5 through 22, many of whom are on the autism spectrum. We run four programs, Life Skills, Dual Diagnosis, Intensive Self-Management, and Enhanced, and all of them rest on Applied Behavior Analysis. Class sizes range from five to ten students depending on the program. Classroom teams use functional communication training, social skills training, positive behavior supports, language development, and instruction in daily living skills. Our staff includes certified special and general education teachers, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Licensed Behavior Specialists, Registered Behavior Technicians, and educational therapists. BHA-employed speech and occupational therapists provide services on site, and students also take music, adapted physical education, and art. Our sensory gym, designed with Summit Sensory, has equipment for climbing and swinging, and in our laboratory kitchen with gas and electric cooktops students practice independent living skills. Extended School Year services run during the summer.

• Private special education day school
• Autism
• ABA support
• Small class sizes