What Comprehensive Educational Services does

Comprehensive Educational Services, operating as ACES ABA, is a private Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy provider founded in 1996 by special education teacher Kristin Farmer and headquartered in San Diego, California. The company delivers evidence-based autism therapy across center-based Learning Centers, home-based programs, school-based settings (ACES at School), and after-school social skills groups, with parent and family training as a complementary offering. ACES employs 1,001-5,000 staff including 400+ Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBAs) supervisors and differentiates through an assent-based ABA methodology, a comprehensive assessment framework using 7+ tools, and an ethical dosage approach (20-25 hours/week) rather than a blanket 40-hour prescription.

The company is in-network with more than 100 insurance plans including Catalight, Mercy Care, and Optum, and bills primarily through recurring insurance reimbursement with private pay as a secondary option. Care delivery is supported by the CentralReach client portal, which provides caregivers with real-time progress data and monthly Client Accomplishment Tracker (CAT) reviews. ACES generated Forbes Best Midsize Employer recognition and has scaled through acquisitions of CLASS (2021) and Ally Pediatric Therapy (2026), with General Atlantic as a 2020 growth equity investor. The company operates primarily in California and Texas with additional Northern California regional coverage.

ACES's customer base consists of individual families of children diagnosed with autism (ages 0-18), acquired through direct outreach, insurance-verified intake, pediatrician and diagnostician referrals, and community partnerships. The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer content marketing (blog, social, SEO) with B2B referral relationships across schools, school districts, and payor networks. Revenue is recurring in nature, anchored by ongoing weekly therapy hours under individualized care plans that generate multi-year client relationships.

Name

Comprehensive Educational Services

Legal name

ACES 2020, LLC

Website

https://acesaba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

ACES ABA is a private Applied Behavior Analysis therapy provider founded in 1996, serving families of children with autism across center-based, home-based, and school-based settings in California and Texas, with 400+ BCBA supervisors and 100+ in-network insurance plans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health Services — Autism Therapy (ABA)

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Parent/Caregiver Training & Family Consultation (ABA) (EDAKAHAG), Autism 1:1 Paraprofessional / Aide Support Services (EDAKAKAD), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• ABA therapy services
• Autism early intervention
• Behavioral analysis therapy
• Special education services
• Center-based autism care

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. ABA Therapy Services (Insurance-Billed): ACES provides ABA therapy services billed primarily through insurance. The company is in-network with over 100 insurance plans. Most children receive 20-40 hours of ABA services per week, with typical recommendations of 20-25 hours. Revenue is recurring based on ongoing therapy hours delivered under individualized care plans.
2. Private Pay Options: ACES offers private pay options for families without sufficient insurance coverage or who prefer to pay out of pocket. Pricing is quote-based and depends on the personalized treatment plan developed after the initial evaluation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Comprehensive Educational Services (operating as ACES) provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and behavioral health services for children with autism spectrum disorder. Services are delivered through three modalities: center-based learning centers, home-based therapy in natural environments, and school-based programs aligned with IEP goals. The company also provides caregiver training, social skills programs, and a client portal for progress tracking, with services billed primarily through insurance.

Product overview

ACES (Comprehensive Educational Services) is an autism therapy provider offering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services through a multi-modal delivery system: Center-Based ABA at their Learning Centers (including Early Learners Program and After-School Social Skills Programs), Home-Based ABA in natural environments, and School-Based ABA (ACES at School) supporting IEP goals. The company also provides Parent & Family Training to extend therapy into daily routines. A proprietary CentralReach Client Portal enables caregivers to monitor progress and collaborate with clinical teams. Founded in 1996 by special education teacher Kristin Farmer, ACES delivers individualized, evidence-based ABA therapy with over 400 BCBA supervisors across multiple communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Center-Based ABA Therapy (Early Learners Program + After-School Social Skills Program) Early intervention autism therapy delivered at ACES Learning Centers. The Early Learners Program provides focused 1:1 support in a structured environment designed for preschool-age children, building communication, social, and daily living skills through evidence-based ABA therapy. The After-School Social Skills Program provides group-based programming for school-age children to strengthen peer interaction, communication, and confidence. Designed for children with autism spectrum disorder (primarily ages 0-18) and their families.
• Home-Based ABA Therapy Autism therapy services delivered in the child's natural home and community environments, focusing on real-life routines, daily living skills, and family participation to support skill generalization beyond the therapy setting. For families of children with autism seeking to extend ABA therapy into everyday life.
• School-Based ABA Therapy (ACES at School) Applied Behavior Analysis services delivered in educational settings to support academic success, social development, and behavioral outcomes for students with autism. Designed to complement classroom instruction and align with IEP goals. Delivered in partnership with schools and school districts.
• Parent & Family Training (Caregiver Collaboration) Caregiver training program teaching practical ABA strategies to support a child's development during everyday routines. Designed to extend learning beyond therapy sessions, build family confidence, and ensure therapy progress generalizes into daily life. For parents and caregivers of children receiving ABA therapy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children typically progress from nonverbal to speaking in sentences
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• KultureCityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACES partnered with KultureCity, a nonprofit dedicated to making venues more accessible for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Through this partnership, ACES supports accessibility initiatives at major venues including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, concerts, and festivals.
• Lighthouse ImmersiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACES serves as the clinical support and training partner for Lighthouse Immersive, which organizes Disney immersive shows with sensory-friendly accommodations including reduced volume, comfortable lighting, content sensitivity warnings, and quiet areas.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BlueSprig Pediatrics: One of the largest U.S. providers of ABA therapy for children with autism, operating a multi-state center-based model similar to ACES. Directly comparable in service mix (center, home, school), payor contracting approach, and clinical leadership structure (BCBA-supervised).
• Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers: Multi-state ABA provider delivering center-based, home-based, and school-based services with a heavy early-intervention focus. Closely comparable to ACES in target population, modality mix, and reliance on BCBA-supervised clinical teams.
• LEARN Behavioral: National ABA platform built through roll-up acquisitions, providing center-, home-, and school-based services. Comparable to ACES in operating model, payor mix, and growth strategy combining organic openings with M&A.
• Centria Healthcare: National provider of ABA and other behavioral health services for children with autism, with similar home- and center-based delivery and payor-driven revenue model. Closely comparable clinical and GTM approach to ACES.
• Kadiant: ABA therapy provider operating across multiple states with a center- and home-based model. Comparable to ACES in clinical methodology (ABA), target population (children with autism), and payor-driven reimbursement model.
• Trumpet Behavioral Health: Multi-state ABA and behavioral health provider for individuals with autism, offering center-based, home-based, and school-based services. Directly comparable in clinical model, populations served, and school district contracting.
• Brightside Academy / Behavior Frontiers: ABA provider serving children with autism across multiple states using a center- and home-based delivery model. Comparable in clinical framework, payor relationships, and focus on early intensive intervention.

Broad incumbents

• Catalight: Large, established autism services organization combining direct ABA care delivery with research and payor relationships. Comparable in operating ABA services at scale, while also acting as a payor that contracts with ACES.
• UnitedHealth Group / Optum (Behavioral Health): Major managed-care payor and behavioral health services platform that both reimburses ABA services and operates its own autism and behavioral capabilities. Relevant as a payor counterparty and indirect competitor for ACES.

Emerging players

• Cortica: Multi-disciplinary autism care provider combining ABA therapy with medical, developmental, and therapeutic services. Partially comparable to ACES in ABA delivery, with broader integrated-care positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ACESAutism
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aces-autism-comprehensive-educational-services-
• Instagraminstagram.com/acestagram_
• Xx.com/ACESautism

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Comprehensive Educational Services