What The Parish School does

The Parish School is an independent, non-profit special needs school founded in 1983 in Houston, Texas, serving children ages 2-12 with communication delays, speech and language disorders, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, apraxia, ADHD, and other learning differences. The school operates a 17-acre nature-based campus at 11001 Hammerly Boulevard, with every classroom opening to a private outdoor learning space and the Margaret Noecker Nature Center's Oak Creek Exploration Zone (Certified Nature Explore Classroom). It maintains a 5:1 or less student-to-adult ratio and staffs 64 employees including 11 speech-language pathologists, 4 mental health counselors, occupational/music/art therapists, dyslexia practitioners, and 7 certified Hanen trainers.

The school's core product integrates core academics with embedded therapeutic services delivered up to 15 hours of weekly group speech-language therapy for early childhood students and up to 7 hours weekly for elementary students, plus art, music, occupational, and Social Learning group therapies. The affiliated on-site Carruth Center pediatric clinic provides assessments and additional therapies through 19+ professionals, with appointments woven into the school day. Supplementary revenue-generating programs include Adventure Play after-school programming (ages 5-12, 2-4 days/week) and a summer portfolio of Camp Acorn, Camp SOCIAL (delivered at partner Camp For All), the Kaufman-Apraxia Boot Camp, and Camp Super Writers.

The business model combines recurring tuition (annual billing), subscription fees for after-school and summer programs, and donations through The Parish Fund and annual giving. Distribution is direct enrollment on the Houston campus via an inquiry-tour-apply admission process, supported by community-led content marketing through the Unbabbled podcast, blog, parent testimonials, alumni stories, and a Speakers Bureau. Geographic scope is regional (Houston metro and Texas), with no global footprint and no app or digital product surface.

Name

The Parish School

Legal name

The Parish School

Website

https://parishschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Parish School is an independent, non-profit Houston special needs school serving children ages 2-12 with communication delays and learning differences through integrated academics, embedded speech and occupational therapy, and nature-based learning on a 17-acre campus, funded by tuition and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Special needs education
• Speech language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Social learning programs
• Nature based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Private school tuition for specialized education services including integrated therapy, academic instruction, and nature-based learning programs.
2. Adventure Play Program Fees: After-school program fees for Adventure Play, with options for 2, 3, or 4 days per week attendance, sibling discounts available.
3. Summer Programs: Revenue from Camp Acorn, Camp SOCIAL, Kaufman-Apraxia Boot Camp, and Camp Super Writers summer programs.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Donations through The Parish Fund, annual fund, and various fundraising events to support financial assistance and program development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Parish School is a nonprofit independent school that provides integrated special education for children ages 2-12 with language delays and learning differences. Its core offering combines speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and academic instruction within a Social Learning framework, delivered on a 17-acre nature-rich campus in Houston.

Product overview

The Parish School is an independent special needs school in Houston, TX, offering a whole-child educational approach for children ages 2-12 with communication delays and learning differences. The school's integrated program combines core educational programs (Early Childhood and Elementary), therapeutic services (Speech Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Social Learning), and enrichment programs (Adventure Play after-school program, Camp Acorn/Camp SOCIAL/Camp Super Writers/Kaufman-Apraxia Boot Camp summer programs, and Library Lab). The campus includes the Margaret Noecker Nature Center with 17 acres of outdoor learning spaces and the on-site Carruth Center pediatric therapy clinic, creating a unified environment where education and therapy are seamlessly integrated throughout the school day.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Acorn: Summer program offered by The Parish School for children, featuring adventure activities and social learning opportunities.
• Adventure Play
• The Carruth Center

Products and services

• Early Childhood Program Early childhood special education for children ages 2-5 with communication delays and learning differences, integrating speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and academic instruction.
• Elementary Program Elementary-level special education for students ages 6-12 with language delays and learning differences, integrating speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and academic instruction using the Social Learning approach.
• Speech-Language Therapy Speech-language therapy integrated into the school day for children with communication delays, delivered by credentialed therapists as part of the Social Learning approach.
• Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy integrated into the school day for students, supporting sensory integration, motor skills, and self-regulation.
• Adventure Play Program Proprietary adventure play-based program that uses guided outdoor and nature play to support social, emotional, and physical development for students with learning differences.
• Outdoor Learning Program Outdoor learning program leveraging the school's 17-acre nature-rich campus to support experiential, nature-based education for students.
• Integrated Arts Program Integrated arts and sciences curriculum designed to deliver interdisciplinary learning experiences for students with language and learning differences.
• Summer Programs Summer programs offering continued learning and enrichment opportunities for children with language and learning differences outside the regular school year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children successfully transition to traditional school settings after attending The Parish School
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Carruth CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Carruth Center is an affiliated organization providing on-site pediatric therapy services at The Parish School. The center offers assessments and specialized therapies including occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling. Clinic therapists collaborate directly with Parish educators to maximize student learning potential.
• Camp For AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp For All is a barrier-free summer camp for children with challenging illnesses, disabilities, or special needs. The Parish School is one of Camp For All's approximately 65 nonprofit partners. Students from The Parish School attend Camp SOCIAL at Camp For All, which is designed to provide typical camp experiences regardless of challenges.
• Innerlight Community AdvocatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based behavioral health organization providing wraparound services. Works with families to connect them with resources and support for children with disabilities.
• Nature Explore ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA division of a nonprofit organization that provides certification for nature-based outdoor learning classrooms. The Oak Creek Exploration Zone at The Parish School's Margaret Noecker Nature Center received Certified Nature Explore Classroom recognition.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Forman School: The Forman School is an independent boarding/day school in Connecticut serving students with language-based learning differences, ADHD, and dyslexia. Comparable in mission and integrated model, though more residential and geographically distinct from Parish.
• The Kildonan School: The Kildonan School is an independent boarding/day school in New York specializing in dyslexia and language-based learning differences. It is comparable to Parish in its specialized focus, mission-driven delivery model, and emphasis on integrating therapeutic and academic approaches.
• The Vanguard School: The Vanguard School is a private K-12 school in Pennsylvania serving students with learning differences, autism, and social-communication challenges. Comparable to Parish in its focus on whole-child education, integrated therapies, and low student-to-staff ratios.
• The Churchill School: The Churchill School is an independent K-12 school in NYC serving students with language-based learning disabilities. Comparable to Parish in delivering integrated speech/language therapy within the school day and a specialized mission around communication and learning differences.
• The Lab School of Washington: The Lab School of Washington is an independent K-12 school serving students with learning differences including dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Comparable to Parish in target learner profile, integrated clinical/academic model, and emphasis on arts-based and experiential learning.
• The Frostig School: The Frostig School is a private school in Pasadena, CA serving students with learning differences, autism, and communication challenges. Comparable to Parish in providing integrated therapy and academics for a similar learner profile, though in a different geography.
• The McLean School: The McLean School is an independent K-12 school in Maryland serving students with language-based learning differences, dyslexia, and ADHD. It is comparable to Parish in delivering integrated academic and therapeutic services to a similar profile of learners, though in a different geography.
• The Briarwood School: The Briarwood School is a Houston-area independent school for students with learning differences, ADHD, dyslexia, and autism. It competes head-to-head with Parish in the same metro for families seeking specialized K-12 education with embedded therapeutic support.
• The Monarch School: The Monarch School is a Houston-area private school serving students with neurological differences including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and social-communication challenges. It overlaps directly with Parish's customer segment of families seeking whole-child, integrated special-needs education.
• The Joy School: The Joy School is a Houston-based independent private school serving children with learning differences, autism, ADHD, and communication delays ages 3-12. It is the closest direct geographic peer because it competes for the same Houston families seeking specialized, integrated education and therapy.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-parish-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Parish School