What Schools for Children does

Schools for Children, Inc. is a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1981 when Lesley College divested its lab schools, now operating five distinct educational programs in the greater Boston area under a single nonprofit umbrella. Its therapeutic schools (Dearborn Academy in Newton and Seaport Academy in Chelsea) are Massachusetts 766-approved special education day schools for students in Grades 3-12, with Seaport Academy operating as an all-boys therapeutic program focused on Collaborative Problem Solving. Lesley Ellis School in Arlington is a nationally recognized independent school offering a student-centered, anti-bias curriculum from preschool through Grade 8, drawing families from more than 20 communities. Dearborn STEP provides intensive 45-day clinical and therapeutic assessment for students in Grades 5-12 in crisis or transition, while Winn Brook Extended Learning in Belmont operates an EEC-licensed before- and after-school program for K-4 students.

The organization enrolls more than 350 students across its programs and runs an annual operating budget exceeding $19 million. Its technology stack consists primarily of third-party educational platforms — MEFA Pathway for college and career planning, the Wilson Reading System for literacy instruction, MangaHigh for online math, and Yondr pouches for cell phone management — alongside proprietary programmatic frameworks such as STEP, Everest College Coaching, and the anti-bias curriculum. The therapeutic schools' core methodology rests on embedded clinicians, restorative practices, and structured IEP-aligned instruction.

Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring channels: per-student tuition paid by Massachusetts school districts for therapeutic placements (with partial reimbursement via the state's Special Education Circuit Breaker), direct family tuition at Lesley Ellis, EEC program fees for extended learning, and charitable donations through the Circle of Friends program and capital campaigns. Distribution relies on district referrals for the therapeutic schools and direct family enrollment for Lesley Ellis and Winn Brook; STEP served students from 18 different Massachusetts districts in the 2024-2025 school year. Schools for Children is governed by a Board of Trustees and is led by Executive Director Dr. Paul Stein, with headquarters at 8 Winchester Place, Winchester, Massachusetts.

Name

Schools for Children

Legal name

Schools for Children, Inc.

Website

https://schoolsforchildreninc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Schools for Children is a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating five schools and programs (Dearborn Academy, Lesley Ellis, Seaport Academy, Dearborn STEP, Winn Brook Extended Learning) serving 350+ students across therapeutic special education, independent K-8, and extended learning offerings in greater Boston.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Therapeutic K-12 Schools

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Emotional & Behavioral Disorders (EBD) / Therapeutic Day Schools (EDAKAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Therapeutic/Behavioral & Residential Treatment K–12 Schools (EDAJABAI), Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB), Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Special education schools
• Therapeutic day schools
• Independent K-12 education
• Short-term educational assessment
• Extended learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Winchester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Services Revenue: Schools for Children operates as a nonprofit organization generating revenue primarily through tuition payments funded by school district referrals for special education services. State funding through programs like the Special Education Circuit Breaker partially reimburses districts for out-of-district placement costs.
2. Therapeutic School Tuition: Dearborn Academy and Seaport Academy receive tuition payments from local school districts for students placed in their state-approved special education programs. Revenue is recurring based on student enrollment.
3. Independent School Tuition: Lesley Ellis School charges tuition for its independent school program serving preschool through Grade 8, funded directly by families.
4. Extended Learning Program Fees: Winn Brook Extended Learning Program provides EEC-licensed before and after-school care, generating revenue through program fees.
5. Donations and Charitable Support: Schools for Children is a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives donations through its Circle of Friends program and capital campaigns. The organization has received long-term support from organizations like the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schools for Children is a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates five educational programs across the Boston metro area: three schools (Dearborn Academy, a state-approved special education day school for Grades 3-12; Lesley Ellis School, an independent preschool-Grade 8 school with an anti-bias curriculum; and Seaport Academy, a state-approved therapeutic school for young men in Grades 8-12) plus Dearborn STEP, a 45-day short-term intensive clinical and therapeutic assessment program, and Winn Brook Extended Learning, an EEC-licensed before- and after-school program. The organization also operates the Everest College Coaching Program to support college students with learning differences.

Product overview

Schools for Children is a nonprofit organization operating five distinct educational programs in Massachusetts: three schools (Dearborn Academy for special education, Lesley Ellis School for independent education, Seaport Academy for young men), one specialized assessment program (Dearborn STEP), and one extended learning program (Winn Brook Extended Learning). These programs serve students from pre-K through adult, with offerings including therapeutic support, academic excellence, college preparation, and before/after-school care. Additionally, the Everest College Coaching Program extends support to college students beyond the K-12 programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dearborn Academy A Massachusetts 766-approved state-approved special education day school located in Newton, MA, serving students in Grades 3-12 with anxiety, depression, OCD, executive functioning challenges, and language-based learning difficulties. Offers comprehensive academic programming including Wilson Reading, speech and language, occupational therapy, woodworking, jewelry, metalworks, art, theater, and music, with college-preparatory offerings including Honors-option classes and National Honor Society chapter.
• Lesley Ellis School A nationally-recognized independent school located in Arlington, MA, serving preschoolers through Grade 8, providing a challenging, student-centered curriculum with a nationally-recognized anti-bias framework. Features include robust academics, vibrant arts programming, Spanish language instruction, and college-preparatory preparation.
• Seaport Academy A Massachusetts 766-approved all-male state-approved therapeutic school located in Chelsea, MA, for students in Grades 8-12. Specializes in Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) for teens with social/emotional challenges, offering flexible, hands-on, experiential learning with small class sizes and therapeutic supports, including vocational experiences such as blacksmithing and pottery.
• Dearborn STEP (Short Term Educational Placement) An intensive clinical and therapeutic assessment program for students in Grades 5-12 for up to 45 school days. Provides therapy, counseling, family collaboration, individualized curriculum, and psychiatric consultation to help students transition back to educational placement. Located at 34 Winter Street, Arlington, MA. Served students from 18 different Massachusetts school districts in the 2024-2025 school year.
• Winn Brook Extended Learning An EEC-licensed before- and after-school program located at Winn Brook Elementary School in Belmont, MA, serving children in grades K-4. Provides high-quality supervised learning opportunities with activities that enhance social and emotional skills.
• Everest College Coaching Program A college coaching program developed by Dearborn Academy staff offering weekly virtual sessions with one-on-one coaching for college students with learning differences, mental health challenges, and executive functioning needs. Provides support for time management, course planning, study skills, accommodations advocacy, and family collaboration.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association (MCMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCMA, founded in 1795 by Paul Revere, is one of Schools for Children's oldest supporters, providing grants and equipment for nearly 40 years. MCMA has donated $5,000 to $15,000 in equipment per year since the mid-1980s, supporting vocational programs at Dearborn Academy and Seaport Academy including woodworking, metalworking, and studio arts.
• PlayworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlayworks partnership supports a leadership-based pilot program at Winn Brook Extended Learning where third graders learn to lead games and develop conflict resolution skills. The 12-student program teaches leadership strategies including attention getters and conflict management techniques.
• RISE-DEIminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRISE-DEI consultants Dr. Lauren Mascarenaz and Ryan Williams conducted a day-long faculty workshop at Lesley Ellis School to infuse social justice standards into planning and teaching.
• Talooka StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerTalooka Studio, based in Washington D.C., designed Schools for Children's recent rebrand including logo, color palette, and brand guidelines. The design team was led by founders Christin Glover and Tanicia Bethea.
• Charles River Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools for Children is a member of the Charles River Chamber of Commerce, participating in the local business and nonprofit community including the Love Local campaign supporting local restaurants.
• Prospect Hill ForgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaport Academy students participate in off-campus blacksmithing program at Prospect Hill Forge in Waltham, providing vocational education and hands-on learning experiences.
• Mudflats StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaport Academy offers off-campus pottery classes at Mudflats Studio in Somerville as part of its vocational curriculum and experiential learning programs.
• New England OCD Institute / Dr. Lisa CoyneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Lisa Coyne from New England OCD provided Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) training to Dearborn Academy's clinical team and continues to consult regarding students with OCD.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Forman School: Litchfield, Connecticut boarding and day school for students with learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD. Comparable mission and program model to Dearborn Academy, but operates primarily in Connecticut as a regional peer rather than a Massachusetts direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• The Lab School of Washington: Washington, D.C.-based private school serving students in grades 1-12 with learning differences, nationally recognized for its integrated academic and therapeutic model. Comparable as an established national reference point for schools combining academic rigor with therapeutic supports for students with LD.
• Buckingham Browne & Nichols School: Cambridge, Massachusetts independent day school serving students in preschool through grade 9. Comparable to Lesley Ellis School as a competing greater Boston independent school drawing families from across metro communities, though BB&N does not specialize in therapeutic or LD programming.

Direct peers

• New England Center for Children: Southborough, Massachusetts nonprofit operating residential, day, and public school programs for children with autism and related disabilities. Comparable as a multi-program special education operator in Massachusetts serving high-acuity district-funded students.
• Eagle Hill School: Southborough, Massachusetts school serving students with language-based learning disabilities, ages 5-15. Directly comparable to Dearborn Academy and similar small Massachusetts special education day schools serving students with dyslexia and related LD.
• Justice Resource Institute (JRI): Massachusetts-based human services nonprofit that operates multiple special education day schools and therapeutic programs across the state. Directly comparable to Schools for Children in operating model (multi-program nonprofit serving districts under 766-style approvals) and student populations (special education, therapeutic, social-emotional).
• May Institute: Massachusetts-based nonprofit that operates May Center Schools for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable as a multi-site special education operator funded through district tuition and reimbursements.
• Wayside Youth & Family Support Network: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing residential and day special education schools along with family support services. Directly comparable as a Massachusetts nonprofit operating special education schools funded through district tuition.
• Landmark School: Beverly, Massachusetts day and boarding school serving students in Grades 2-12 with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Closely comparable to Dearborn Academy in mission (LD instruction) and geography (greater Boston / North Shore Massachusetts).
• Milestones Day School: Waltham, Massachusetts special education day school serving students ages 5-22 with social, emotional, educational, and behavioral challenges. Closely aligned with Seaport Academy's therapeutic day school model and STEP's short-term assessment positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/schools4chldrn

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Schools for Children