About Us

OUR SCHOOL

Aurora School is a private, year-round day school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, with eligibility through age 22. We specialize in supporting students with autism and related developmental disabilities whose needs are not fully met in traditional public-school settings.

Each student at Aurora has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and learns in a highly supportive, 1:1+ environment. Instruction is personalized and includes community-based instruction to build functional skills, independence, and confidence across areas such as:

Reading and math
Communication and social skills
Self-management and self-regulation
Daily living and independent living skills
Pre-vocational and transition skills for life after high school

Aurora School is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF).

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We believe students learn best when evidence-based practices are consistently applied in the classroom. Aurora is a learning community for both students and staff, built around a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach.

Our teaching practices are grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Cornerstones of our approach include:

Positive reinforcement
Continuous measurement of learning
Strategic data review and decision-making based on student progress

Verbal behavior, academic skills, social skills, self-management, and problem-solving are taught systematically using well-researched curricula as well as materials developed in-house by our teachers and behavior analysts.

Our teachers, therapists, and behavior analysts participate in ongoing professional development throughout the year to ensure our practices remain current, effective, and responsive to student needs.

CURRICULUM & INTEGRATED SERVICES

Aurora’s curriculum is designed to address the whole student. Instruction is individualized to each IEP and may include goals in:

Academics (reading, writing, math.
Communication and language
Social skills and peer interaction
Motor skills and sensory regulation
Independent living and daily routines
Transition and workplace readiness

A key feature of Aurora is that related services are integrated into the school day and delivered primarily in the classroom, rather than pulling students out of instruction. Students have access to:

Speech and language therapy
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Music therapy
Ongoing support from Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)

This fully integrated model allows skills to be practiced where students live, learn, and interact—making it easier to generalize progress across settings.

OUR HISTORY

Aurora School was founded in 2004 by parents and community partners who saw the need for a specialized school where students with autism and related disabilities could truly thrive.

For more than 20 years, Aurora has provided a supportive, highly structured environment for students whose needs could not be fully met in traditional public-school classrooms.

Today, we continue that legacy as part of The Arc of Loudoun, working closely with local school divisions and families to help each student build a meaningful path forward.

OUR CAMPUS

Aurora School is located at The National Conference Center in Loudoun County, Virginia. Our students benefit from spacious indoor learning environments and access to walking paths, outdoor gathering areas, and expansive grounds that support movement, recreation, and community-based learning.

Community-Based Instruction (CBI) is embedded into student programs. Students regularly practice real-world skills—such as navigating public spaces, making purchases, following routines, and interacting with community members—in authentic settings.

These experiences help students apply what they learn in the classroom to everyday life.

Aurora also partners with local organizations, such as museums and science centers, to provide hands-on enrichment opportunities.

Through these partnerships, students explore STEM activities, creative projects, and other experiential learning that extend their skills beyond the traditional classroom.