Horizons School

What Horizons School does

Horizons School (legally The Horizons School Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered at 2018 15th Avenue South in Birmingham, Alabama. It serves young adults, approximately aged 18 to 22, with autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disabilities, and developmental differences, operating a community-based educational program that uses the city itself as the classroom to teach social skills, psychological coping, life skills, and academics through experiential learning in real-world settings.

The core offering consists of four integrated programs: the READI Program (primary curriculum), the Community Transition Program (an optional third-year advanced-independence track that moves students from supervised residence to supported independent living with weekly advising), Contracting Services (vocational placement and employer engagement), and the Student Life Program (residential life and social activities). Delivery relies on a 16-person staff supplemented by a network of 30+ community partners — including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Target, Birmingham Zoo, Brookwood Baptist Health, Piggly Wiggly, McWane Science Center, Shades Valley YMCA, and others — that provide job shadows, internships, paid employment, and social engagement.

The revenue model combines undisclosed, quote-based annual tuition (with financial aid available) and tax-deductible individual donations, accepted as one-time or recurring gifts. The organization is BBB Accredited, holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, and is governed by a Board of Directors with representatives from Captrust, Jones Walker LLP, EGS Commercial Real Estate, Bainbridge Mims Rogers & Smith LLP, and UAB. Distribution is direct via admissions phone line, scheduled campus visits, and referral-driven family inquiries; marketing runs through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, the website blog, alumni referrals, and community partner channels.

Name

Horizons School

Legal name

The Horizons School Inc.

Website

https://horizonsschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Horizons School is a Birmingham, Alabama-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that runs a community-based residential transition program helping young adults with autism, learning disabilities, and developmental differences build independent living and employment skills.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Education and Transition Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Specialized Residential Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAH), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Special education transition
• Independent living skills
• Vocational training programs
• Autism transition support
• Community-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Revenue generated from tuition fees for the educational program. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the school relies on tuition to fund operations while keeping costs affordable through donor support.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The school accepts one-time and monthly donations from individuals, with options to give in honor or memory of someone. Donations are tax-deductible as the organization holds 501(c)(3) status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Horizons School operates a community-based educational program in Birmingham, Alabama, preparing young adults with autism, learning disabilities, and developmental differences for independent living. The core offering comprises the READI Program (primary multi-year curriculum), Community Transition Program (third-year graduated independence), Contracting Services (vocational placement support to local employers), and Student Life Program (residential life and experiential learning). Services are delivered through a residential campus with faculty and RA support and partnerships with 30+ local employers and community organizations.

Product overview

Horizons School is a single, unified educational program that provides community-based instruction promoting independent living for young adults with learning disabilities, autism spectrum, and developmental disorders. The core offering consists of the READI Program (primary educational curriculum), Community Transition Program (third-year advanced independence program), Contracting Services (vocational support), and Student Life Program (residential and social activities). The programs work together as an integrated progression from structured education to independent living, using the community as the classroom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Two-thirds (67%) of graduates are currently employed in their community
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Alabama at BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing academic opportunities and collaborations. Board member Dr. Nataliya Ivankova and Dr. David Morris from UAB School of Health Professions contribute expertise. Medical consultant Dr. Lee Ascherman, M.D., MPH also affiliated with UAB.
• Aspire HealthcareminorOthersNewest community partner offering employment and internship opportunities for students.
• Sozo Trading CompanyminorOthersCommunity partner providing job shadow, internship, or paid employment opportunities.
• Shades Valley YMCAminorOthersCommunity partner providing services and social activities for students.
• Levite Jewish Community CenterminorOthersCommunity partner providing services and social activities for students.
• Top GolfminorOthersCommunity partner hosting students for job shadows, internships, paid employment, or social activities.
• Community Kitchens of BirminghamminorOthersCommunity partner providing job shadow, internship, or paid employment opportunities.
• Compass Group/ Touchpoint at St. VincentsminorOthersCommunity partner providing job shadow, internship, or paid employment opportunities.
• McWane Science CenterminorOthersCommunity partner providing social activities and educational experiences for students.
• TargetminorOthersCommunity partner providing job shadow, internship, or paid employment opportunities.
• Birmingham ZoominorOthersCommunity partner hosting students for job shadows, internships, paid employment, or social activities.
• Brookwood Baptist HealthminorOthersCommunity partner providing job shadow, internship, or paid employment opportunities.
• Lakeshore FoundationminorOthersCommunity partner providing services and social activities for students.
• Piggly WigglyminorOthersCommunity partner providing job shadow, internship, or paid employment opportunities.
• McWane Science CenterminorOthersCommunity partner providing social activities and educational experiences for students.
• Pies and PintsminorOthersCommunity partner providing job shadow, internship, paid employment, or social activities.
• Steel City PopsminorOthersCommunity partner providing job shadow, internship, paid employment, or social activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• New England Center for Children: NECC is an established autism and special education provider offering residential, day, and transition services for children and young adults. Larger scale and broader geography, but overlapping population and life-skills curriculum.
• The Arc: The Arc is a national disability advocacy and service organization with local chapters providing transition, employment, and residential supports. National footprint makes it a broader incumbent versus Horizons' single-site model.
• Aspire Living & Learning: Aspire provides residential, day, vocational, and transition supports for children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities across multiple states. Overlapping program types at larger scale than Horizons.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Devereux is a large nonprofit operating behavioral health, residential, and transition programs for individuals with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities across multiple states. Broader portfolio but overlapping mission with Horizons' transition services.

Direct peers

• Beacon College: Beacon College is a four-year accredited college in Leesburg, FL exclusively serving students with learning differences, ADHD, and autism. Comparable mission of preparing neurodiverse young adults for independent, productive lives.
• Threshold Program at Lesley University: Lesley's Threshold Program is a post-secondary transition program for young adults with diverse learning disabilities, offering independent living, career, and academic skills. Directly comparable population and outcome orientation.
• College Living Experience (CLE): CLE offers supported independent living, college coaching, and career readiness for young adults with learning disabilities and autism in multiple cities. Overlaps directly with Horizons' READI and Community Transition programs.
• College Internship Program (CIP): CIP provides post-secondary transition, vocational, and independent living programs for young adults with autism, ADHD, and learning differences across multiple U.S. locations. Highly comparable to Horizons in target population, program structure, and outcome focus.
• Melmark: Melmark provides residential, educational, and vocational services for children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities. Comparable residential special education and adult transition focus.
• Camphill Communities: Camphill operates residential communities providing life skills, vocational, and social development for adults with developmental disabilities. Comparable residential/transition model, though broader population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_Tk_o0aFyZ1d7L-HNHF0mg
• Facebookfacebook.com/horizonsschoolbirmingham
• Instagraminstagram.com/horizonsschoolbirmingham
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horizonsschool

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Horizons School