New Focus Academy

New Focus Academy is a residential program in Heber City for teens ages 12 to 18 who are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent. This is not a day school. Students live on campus, and the program holds a State of Utah license as a residential treatment center, so enrolling means placing a child away from home. Admission criteria are specific: an education level between 6th and 12th grade, and an IQ of at least 75, with lower scores considered on further review. The students it describes typically carry labels such as Autism Spectrum Disorder at Level 1 or Level 2, ADHD and other attention disorders, executive functioning deficits, learning disorders, low working memory or processing speed, nonverbal learning deficits, and social pragmatic communication disorder, often alongside anxiety, depression, or social withdrawal.

Academics are Cognia accredited for grades 6 through 12 and taught by licensed teachers in classes of six to eight students, following Utah Core Standards and Essential Elements with an Edmentum curriculum aligned to Utah graduation requirements. Students can earn a high school diploma while enrolled, and credit recovery is available, including BYU Independent Study. The academic team works with a student's home district on IEP implementation, transcript evaluation upon enrollment, credit alignment with district graduation requirements, quarterly progress reporting, and attendance at IEP meetings. Progress is tracked with NWEA MAP assessments twice a year, with BASC and DASEL added when needed.

On the clinical side, every student is assessed on arrival and given an individualized treatment plan plus a coaching team member who carries goals and feedback through each week. Group therapy runs daily and covers social skills, music, goal setting, and reflection. A weekly recreational activity such as rock climbing or cycling is built into the schedule, and family work is part of the model. The program organizes its methods around what it calls the Autonomy Development Model, Concept Driven Learning, and social-emotional fluency. Separate tracks serve adolescent boys, adolescent girls, and young adults through LifeFocus Transitions, with an Autonomy Housing option for students working toward independent living.

Starting is a phone call. Admissions asks families to call first so fit can be checked, then to submit the online application and forward relevant testing and documentation. Once a student enrolls, the admissions director introduces the therapist who becomes the family's main point of contact. Payment runs through private pay or insurance.