Admissions
Aurora School is a private, year-round day school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, with eligibility through age 22. We review referrals on a rolling basis and welcome inquiries from families and school divisions across Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. metro area.
How Placement Works
All placements at Aurora begin with the student’s public school division. Parents who believe Aurora may be a good fit should contact their child’s Local Education Agency (LEA) to request that an out-of-district referral be initiated.
Aurora does not currently enroll private-pay students except in rare, short-term circumstances. Nearly all tuition is arranged through a student’s home school division.
Aurora School is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF).
Admissions Process:
1. Talk to Your LEA
All admissions to Aurora begin with your child’s public school division. Parents who believe Aurora may be a good fit should contact their child’s Local Education Agency (LEA) to request that an out-of-district referral be initiated. Aurora cannot enroll students directly without a district referral.
2. District Referral Sent to Aurora
Once the LEA submits the referral packet—which typically includes the student’s IEP, evaluations, behavior plan, and progress data—Aurora can begin the review process. Nearly all placements occur through this district pathway, and private pay is only used in rare, short-term exceptions.
3. File Review
Referral packets are reviewed in the order they are received, typically within 1–8 weeks. During this review, Aurora evaluates whether the school can meet the student’s needs based on IEP goals, required services, safety considerations, support intensity, and overall classroom fit.
4. Student Observation
If the file suggests a potential match, Aurora schedules a virtual or in-person observation—usually within 1–4 weeks—to see the student working on IEP goals, understand communication and behavior patterns, and gather additional context from teachers, caregivers, or therapists.
5. Parent & Student Tour
Families who move forward are invited for an in-person tour, where parents meet Aurora’s leadership team and learn about the program, while students explore the space, meet staff, and participate in simple activities. Families are encouraged to bring communication devices or preferred items to support comfort and engagement.
6. Classroom Fit Review
After the tour, Aurora’s leadership team meets to review all observation notes and program information, assessing classroom readiness, safety needs, staffing, peer fit, and current availability to determine whether placement is appropriate at this time.
7. Admission Decision
Families receive an acceptance, waitlist option, or decline by email.
Accepted: The student is a strong fit and a classroom opening is available.
Waitlisted: The student is appropriate for Aurora, but a classroom opening is not currently available. Students are waitlisted only with parent permission.
Declined: Aurora is not able to meet the student’s needs or provide adequate support.
Timeline
From initial referral to final decision, the admissions process generally takes 1–4 months, depending on:
Volume of referrals
Scheduling availability
Number of current classroom openings
Some students may be accepted for a future start date if no immediate openings exist.