Potential Development

What Potential Development does

Potential Development is a nonprofit charter school headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, that educates students with autism across preschool through 12th grade. Founded in 1953 as the United Cerebral Palsy Association, the organization operates three campuses and serves 300+ students with a 200+ member staff, delivering an unusually high staff-to-student ratio relative to typical K–12 settings. Its core instructional model is grounded in the TEACCH Method, a structured-teaching intervention for autism, supplemented by assistive technology such as RoboKind robots for social-emotional learning, eSports, and student-run businesses for experiential skill development.

The organization charges no tuition and is funded primarily through the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program and the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship, supplemented by donations, corporate partnerships, and grants from regional funders including the Youngstown Foundation, which has issued multi-year grants of $500,000 (2017) and $330,000 (2019). The school has expanded its programmatic scope over time — adding high school grades in 2013 and eSports/student-business offerings in 2022 — and has recorded 44% enrollment growth in 2018–2019 and an 18% enrollment increase in 2024, the latter being the largest single-year gain in its history. In 2023 it was named a Best Places to Work, reflecting organizational investment in staff retention amid rapid growth.

Name

Potential Development

Legal name

Potential Development Program Inc.

Website

https://potentialdevelopment.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Potential Development is a nonprofit charter school in Youngstown, Ohio serving 300+ students with autism across preschool through 12th grade on three campuses, using the TEACCH Method and assistive technology, funded by Ohio state scholarships and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services for Autism

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG), Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational) (EDAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Autism education programs
• Charter school services
• Therapeutic education services
• Structured teaching TEACCH

Headquarters

HQ city

Youngstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charter School Funding (Ohio Autism Scholarship Program): As a non-public charter school in Ohio, Potential Development receives funding through the Autism Scholarship Program for students with autism who qualify with formal diagnosis and IEP.
2. Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship: Additional scholarship funding through the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program for qualifying students.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Nonprofit organization receives donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support student programs, therapy services, enrichment activities, and operational costs.
4. PD Promise Corporate Partnership Program: Year-long corporate sponsorship program with multiple partnership levels providing both financial and in-kind support through event sponsorships and classroom sponsorship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Potential Development is a nonprofit charter school exclusively serving students with autism from preschool (ages 2.5-5) through 12th grade across three campuses in Youngstown, Ohio. The school delivers individualized education using the TEACCH Method, supplemented by on-site speech, occupational, physical, and art therapy, sensory rooms, life-skills and workforce development, and extracurricular programs. Services are provided at no tuition to qualifying students funded through Ohio's Autism Scholarship Program and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship.

Product overview

Potential Development offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 12th grade educational program exclusively for students with autism. The school operates three distinct programs—Preschool (ages 2½-5), Elementary & Middle School (K-6), and High School (7-12)—serving over 300 students from 30+ school districts. All programs utilize the TEACCH Method as the core structured teaching framework, supplemented by on-site therapeutic services (speech, occupational, physical, and art therapy) and sensory rooms. The school also offers extracurricular activities including athletics, ESports, workforce development, and SMARTS arts programming. As a nonprofit charter school, there is no tuition charged; funding comes through the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Program Early intervention educational program for students ages 2.5-5 with autism. Includes individualized learning with low teacher-to-student ratios, on-site speech, occupational, and physical therapy services, and is Step Up To Quality Gold Rated by the Ohio Department of Education.
• Elementary & Middle School Program Comprehensive K-6 educational program following Ohio Learning Standards-Extended for language arts, math, science, and social studies. Provides individualized instruction, therapy services, sensory room access, life skills training, and social skills development.
• High School Program Grades 7-12 program enabling students to earn high school diplomas while developing employment skills, life skills for independence, and receiving career exploration and transition services.
• Speech Therapy Services Individualized speech and language therapy services addressing speech development, social communication, and alternative communication methods for nonverbal students.
• Occupational Therapy Services Therapy focused on improving fine motor skills and sensory regulation to help students become more independent throughout their school day.
• Sensory Rooms Calming environments at all locations designed to help students regulate sensory input, promote relaxation, develop social-emotional skills, and improve concentration.
• Art Therapy Services Professional art therapy services facilitated through HELMS Foundation partnership to improve cognitive function, foster self-esteem, and promote emotional resilience through creative expression.
• Workforce Development Program Program helping students examine career possibilities through exploratory visits to employers and agencies, with transition support for post-graduation employment.
• RoboKind Program Facially-expressive robot program used in classrooms to support teachers and promote social-emotional learning and help students achieve social skill mastery through emotional expression recognition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 96 alumni have graduated from Potential Development High School
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• PD Promise Partners (Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze Sponsors)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors including Compco, Daprile Insurance Group, Muransky Co, Simon Roofing, Tri-County Tower, DCW Group, Wesbanco, 898 Marketing, BUFA, Padgett Dental, Cochran, Covelli, Dylan’s House, and others. Partners receive event sponsorships, social media recognition, and classroom sponsorship.
• Youngstown State University (YSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with YSU for English Festival participation, Penguin Preview Days, robotics programs, and other educational initiatives that expose students to college experiences.
• Jewish Community Center of Youngstown (JCC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents participate in physical fitness classes at the JCC, promoting health and wellness alongside community integration.
• YMCAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents participate in physical fitness classes and swimming activities at the YMCA as part of the wellness curriculum.
• SMARTS (Students Motivated by the Arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMARTS delivers regular visual and music arts programming on campus through the SMARTS Beats Program, providing creative expression opportunities for students.
• Children's Rehabilitation CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly partnership established to open a classroom for Trumbull County preschool-age children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Autism Society of Mahoning ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity resource partner dedicated to improving lives of those affected by autism in Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Counties through information, referral, family support, advocacy, and resource development.
• OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide clearinghouse for information on autism spectrum disorders providing lending library, assistive technology loans, professional development, and training.
• Help Me Grow (Mahoning & Trumbull Counties)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio's statewide system for funding and coordinating early intervention services for children 0-3 years of age.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit behavioral health organizations operating K–12 schools, residential, and community programs for autism and emotional/behavioral disorders. Larger and broader portfolio, but directly overlapping in autism-specific K–12 school operations.
• Charter Schools USA: One of the largest U.S. charter school management organizations, operating public and specialized charter schools across multiple states. Comparable as a scaled, multi-state charter school operator, though not autism-specific.
• K12 / Stride: Large publicly traded operator of online and blended K–12 learning programs, including special education and alternative programs. Broader in scope and business model but the closest publicly traded analog for tuition/funder-funded K–12 education delivery.

Direct peers

• Melmark: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization operating schools and residential programs for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Direct peer as a multi-state regional autism-specialized school operator with TEACCH-influenced methodology and a similar nonprofit, tuition-funded model.
• May Institute: Nonprofit provider of special education schools, ABA, and behavioral health services across multiple states for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Comparable as a multi-state autism education operator with school, residential, and clinical service lines.
• New England Center for Children: Massachusetts-based nonprofit school and research center dedicated to autism education, serving students ages 3–22 with on-site clinical and therapeutic services. Closely comparable to Potential Development in mission, full-lifecycle K–12+ model, and integrated therapy staffing.

Others

• OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence): Ohio statewide clearinghouse and partner organization for autism and low-incidence disabilities, providing professional development, assistive technology, and resources. Adjacent support organization rather than a school operator, but explicitly partnered with Potential Development and shapes the Ohio autism ecosystem.
• Pyramid Educational Consultants: Publisher and primary training provider for the TEACCH Method used by Potential Development. Treated as an adjacent/ecosystem peer since it supplies the core instructional methodology and trains teachers at TEACCH-aligned schools.

Regional players

• Bittersweet Farms: Ohio-based nonprofit serving children and adults with autism through residential, vocational, and community-based programs. Most relevant regional peer given shared Ohio footprint and autistic-population focus, though focused on adult services rather than K–12.
• Giant Steps: Illinois-based nonprofit school and therapeutic programs for students with autism, offering grades K–12 with related services. Comparable as a regionally concentrated autism-specialized school operator serving a single metropolitan area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PDPSchoolofAutism
• Facebookfacebook.com/potentialdevelopmentschoolforautism
• Instagraminstagram.com/potentialdevelopment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/potential-development

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Potential Development