Lionheart Academy of the Triad

What Lionheart Academy of the Triad does

Lionheart Academy of the Triad is a private K-12 school located in Greensboro, North Carolina, founded in 2015 to serve students diagnosed with Level 1 and Level 2 autism in grades 4-12. The school operates a single campus at 2802 St. Leo's Street and currently enrolls approximately 75 students across 6 classrooms, supported by 24 staff members with an average 12:1:1 student-to-staff ratio. Leadership combines a Head of School who is a speech-language pathologist with a clinical specialty in autism and over fifteen years of relevant experience (Dr. Jessica Owens), a co-founder who is a clinical audiologist (Dr. Heather Pardue), and a Dean of Behavioral Sciences who is a Registered Behavior Technician pursuing BCBA certification. The organization is governed by a parent-led Board of Directors.

The school's core product is two diploma tracks aligned with North Carolina standards: the Standard Course of Study (a college-preparatory track eligible for dual credit through GTCC's Career and College Promise) and the Occupational Course of Study (a workforce-focused track requiring work-based learning hours completed at partner sites such as Chick-fil-A, Goodwill, Tripps, and Reconsidered Goods). The instructional approach integrates Social Thinking methodology with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) intervention, delivered through a proprietary socio-academic curriculum that embeds social skills instruction throughout the academic day. Complementary offerings include the C.R.E.W. transition program for post-secondary young adults, an afterschool program (2:45pm-6:00pm), and three summer camp tracks (Workforce Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Social-Emotional, and Camp ROAR). The technology stack is intentionally minimal: Follett Destiny library management and a parent portal—AI/ML capabilities are not evident.

Revenue is generated through recurring annual tuition (not publicly disclosed), supplemented by fees for afterschool, summer camps, and the CREW program. The school directs families to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) for K-12 funding options, including the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ programs. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on parent testimonials, word-of-mouth referrals, facility tours, and a Facebook PTO group; paid marketing is minimal. The school has no parent company, no institutional investors, and no disclosed ownership changes since founding.

Name

Lionheart Academy of the Triad

Legal name

Lionheart Academy of the Triad

Website

https://lionheartacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lionheart Academy of the Triad is a private Greensboro, NC school serving approximately 75 students in grades 4-12 with Level 1 and Level 2 autism, delivering Standard and Occupational diploma tracks via an ABA- and Social Thinking-based socio-academic curriculum, with complementary C.R.E.W. transition, afterschool, and summer camp programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Autism education programs
• Private K-12 education
• Social skills training
• Transition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Greensboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Private school tuition for educational services. The school offers two diploma tracks: Standard Course of Study and Occupational Course of Study. Financial aid options are available through NC State Education Assistance Authority.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lionheart Academy of the Triad is a private, tuition-based school in Greensboro, North Carolina serving students diagnosed with Level 1 and Level 2 autism in grades 4-12. It delivers a socio-academic curriculum that blends the Social Thinking methodology with ABA behavioral intervention, with small class sizes and a strengths-based approach. The academy also offers an adult transition program (C.R.E.W.) and seasonal summer camps and afterschool enrichment.

Product overview

Lionheart Academy of the Triad offers a specialized K-12 educational program for students with Level 1 and Level 2 autism. The portfolio consists of two diploma tracks—the Standard Course of Study (Standard Diploma) for college-bound learners and the Occupational Course of Study (OCS) for workforce-focused students—along with complementary programs including the C.R.E.W. adult transition program, Afterschool Program, and Summer Camp offerings (Workforce Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Camp, Social-Emotional Camp, and Camp ROAR). The school also offers a hybrid option combining standard diploma coursework with work skills training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C.R.E.W. Program: Transition program providing adult support services for executive functioning and social skills for young adults with autism

Products and services

• Standard Course of Study (Diploma Track)

Quantifiable outcome

• Less than 5% of adults with autism are employed full-time - Lionheart aims to defy these odds by preparing graduates with job readiness skills
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Tripps (Workplace Training Site)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity workplace training site for Occupational Course of Study students to gain real-world work experience as part of their diploma requirements.
• Goodwill IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkplace training partner providing real-world employment experience for OCS students to complete required work hours for the Occupational Course of Study diploma.
• Chick-fil-AminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkplace training site for students in the Occupational Course of Study program to gain food service and customer service experience.
• Nerd BombersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkplace training partner providing employment experience for students in the Occupational Course of Study program.
• Lebanon Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity workplace training site for OCS students to complete required work hours for their diploma.
• Horse PowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquine-assisted workplace training site providing unique vocational experience for students in the Occupational Course of Study program.
• The Masonic TempleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkplace training partner providing community service and employment experience opportunities for OCS students.
• Reconsidered GoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkplace training site providing vocational experience in retail or warehouse environment for students in the Occupational Course of Study program.
• CanteenminorOthersLunch program provider that stocks coolers and snack racks with food items including hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, salads, and fresh fruit for students.
• Lands' EndminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool uniform provider through Lands' End's school uniform program. Parents can shop online or by phone using the school's preferred school number (900190075) to purchase school uniforms.
• North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education assistance authority providing information on funding options for families seeking to pay tuition. The school directs families to NCSEAA for K-12 funding programs.
• Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) - Career and College PromiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents who qualify can participate in the Career and College Promise Program with GTCC, allowing eligible students to earn college credits while in high school.
• Fox8 (Local News)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal news coverage about the founding of the school and mission to serve children with autism. Featured in Buckley Report segment about Guilford parents fighting for autism-focused education.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Giant Steps School: Private K-12 school in Illinois dedicated exclusively to students with autism, using small class sizes and ABA-based curricula — directly comparable mission and operating model to Lionheart's autism-only school structure.
• The Joshua School: Private school in New Jersey serving students with autism and related developmental needs across elementary and secondary grades; comparable tuition-funded private school model with individualized instruction for ASD learners.
• Beacon Day School: California-based private school for students with autism and other developmental differences using individualized programming and transition planning; directly comparable scope of K-12 ASD-specific private education.
• The McCarton School: NYC-based private school serving children with autism spectrum disorder using ABA-based methods and small classes; comparable specialty private tuition-funded ASD education model.
• The Lab School of Washington: Private school serving students with learning differences including autism and ADHD through individualized curricula; comparable tuition-funded specialty education model and transition programming.
• The Forman School: Connecticut private college-prep school explicitly serving students with learning differences including autism spectrum diagnoses; comparable in serving diploma-track ASD students with small ratios.

Broad incumbents

• New England Center for Children: Established multi-site autism education and ABA services organization operating residential, day, and adult transition programs; comparable in serving ASD students and adults but as a much larger broad autism-services incumbent.
• Center for Autism and Related Disorders: Large national provider of ABA therapy and autism services serving children and adults; adjacent in target population but operates as a broad therapy services incumbent rather than a private school.

Regional players

• Virginia Institute of Autism: Charlottesville-based organization providing autism-specific education, ABA therapy, and adult transition services; comparable in mission and program mix but operating in a different regional market than the Triad.

Emerging players

• The Auburn School: Maryland private school serving students with anxiety, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder; comparable smaller specialty private school with social-emotional and individualized programming focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/298952690928195/members

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Lionheart Academy of the Triad