St. Michael Special School
St. Michael Special School is a private Catholic nonprofit founded in 1965 in New Orleans that provides sequential special education programs for students age six through adulthood with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities across four program tiers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What St. Michael Special School does
St. Michael Special School is a private Catholic nonprofit special education institution founded in 1965 by Sr. Lillian McCormack of the School Sisters of Notre Dame with support from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, headquartered at 1522 Chippewa Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school serves students age six through adulthood diagnosed with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities — including autism, ADHD, developmental delay, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and multiple disabilities — across four sequential program tiers: Lower School (ages 5–15, academically oriented), Upper School (ages 16–21, with HISET, LEAP Connect, and Certificate of Completion diploma tracks plus vocational and life-skills training), Exploration Academy (ages 18–25, transition-to-employment program), and the Joy Activity Center (ages 22+, post-graduation cognitive and social engagement). Support services include on-campus speech and language therapy, ABA, occupational therapy, adaptive physical education, intramural sports, music instruction, and a six-week summer camp. The institution operates under Cognia accreditation, LDOE approval, and has held NASET School of Excellence recognition for seven consecutive years.
The technology stack is modest and operational rather than product-facing: RenWeb (FACTS) is used as the Student Information System for tracking academic progress and parent-teacher communication, supplemented by unspecified educational technology tools in classrooms and on-campus therapy delivery. No public APIs, mobile apps, or proprietary technology platforms are offered. The business model combines tuition revenue (averaging $8,212 per student for 2025/26 across tiered pricing from $7,325 to $9,750 annually) with substantial philanthropic and fundraising support. Over 99% of families receive tuition assistance, and the school bridges a gap of more than $10,520 per child per year between tuition and the actual cost to educate each student (over $18,200). Annual fundraising is anchored by the Blue Rose Ball gala, Harbor Fest event (affiliated with the Fore!Kids Foundation and Zurich Classic of New Orleans), the Annual Giving Drive, and major institutional donors including the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, Valero Energy Foundation, Ray and Jessica Brandt Family Foundation, and Emeril Lagasse Foundation. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on referrals from psychologists, doctors, parents, principals, teachers, and guidance counselors, plus word-of-mouth, parish-level visibility through the Archdiocese, and dedicated bus routes extending the service area to Metairie and Westbank communities. The school reports having educated more than 6,000 students since founding and currently transports over 70 students annually via its two vans.
St. Michael Special School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- St. Michael Special School
- Legal name
- St. Michael Special School
- Website
- https://stmichaelspecialschool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- St. Michael Special School is a private Catholic nonprofit founded in 1965 in New Orleans that provides sequential special education programs for students age six through adulthood with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities across four program tiers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
St. Michael Special School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)
Keywords
Where St. Michael Special School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
St. Michael Special School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for educational services across Lower School, Upper School, Exploration Academy, and Joy Center programs. The school offers financial aid and scholarship programs to support families.
- Donations and Fundraising: Annual Giving Drive, Blue Rose Ball gala, Harbor Fest event, and memorial donations from benefactors and community supporters. The school relies on community philanthropy to bridge the gap between tuition revenue and actual cost of education ($10,520 per child annually).
- Community Support and Volunteer Services: Volunteer support and community donations including Amazon teacher wish list contributions, bead recycling program proceeds, and in-kind support from local businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Lower School (Ages 5-15): Total $9,750 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Upper School (Ages 16-21): Total $7,325 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Joy Center (Ages 22+): Total $7,325 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Exploration Academy: Total $9,025 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Bus Service: $1,700 annually |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
St. Michael Special School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
St. Michael Special School provides Catholic special education services for students with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities across four age-based program tiers: Lower School (ages 5-15), Upper School (ages 16-21), Exploration Academy (ages 18-25), and Joy Activity Center (ages 22+). The school supplements academics with on-campus speech, ABA, occupational, and physical therapy, plus vocational training, life skills, and adaptive physical education, delivered in a technology-rich environment on a single New Orleans campus.
Product overview
St. Michael Special School is a Catholic special education institution offering a single, unified educational program structured across four distinct age-based program tiers: Lower School (ages 5-15) for foundational academics; Upper School (ages 16-21) for high school completion with diploma options; Exploration Academy (ages 18-25) for transition to adulthood; and Joy Activity Center (ages 22+) for continued engagement. These programs are supported by speech therapy, ABA, occupational therapy, adaptive physical education, and summer camp services. The school uses RenWeb (FACTS) as its Student Information System for tracking academic progress and parent-teacher communication.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lower School Program Academically oriented program serving students 5 to 15 years of age with emphasis on English Language Arts and Mathematics, delivered in a technology-rich environment with self-contained classes grouped by age.
- Upper School Program High school setting for students 16 to 21 years of age offering electives (Creative Arts, Culinary Science, Community Based Instruction, Theatre, Sign Language, Film Production), vocational training, life skills, and multiple diploma tracks including HISET and LEAP Connect.
- Exploration Academy Transition program for young adults ages 18 to 25 focused on employment/volunteer opportunities and independent living, providing career exploration, job coaching, and self-determination skills development.
- Joy Activity Center Post-graduation program for adults 22 years and older offering continued cognitive engagement, social activities, on-campus ambassador roles, and participation in cooking, crafts, mission club, computer, reading, math, health and wellness, music, and intramural sports.
- Speech and Language Therapy Therapy services provided for elementary students with communication and/or language deficits on a priority basis.
- ABA and Occupational Therapy Applied Behavior Analysis and occupational therapy services available through private insurance for students who qualify.
- Adaptive Physical Education and Intramural Sports Year-round intramural sports program featuring basketball, softball, soccer, and volleyball, along with adaptive physical education for all students.
- Summer Camp Six-week summer camp program for returning, enrolled students.
Companies that use St. Michael Special School
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
St. Michael Special School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
St. Michael Special School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Archdiocese of New OrleanscoreFounded with support from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. School operates under Archdiocese educational policies and is part of the Catholic school network. Safe Environment seminars for volunteers are sponsored by the Archdiocese.
- School Sisters of Notre DamecoreFounding religious order. St. Michael Special School was established in 1965 by Sr. Lillian McCormack of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
St. Michael Special School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- May Institute: National nonprofit providing special education schools, day habilitation, and ABA services for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Comparable in clinical/special education service mix.
- The Lab School of Washington: Independent school serving students with learning disabilities including dyslexia, ADHD, and other developmental differences through individualized instruction. Comparable in private tuition-based special education delivery for mild-to-moderate needs.
- Cardinal Cushing Centers: Massachusetts-based Catholic special education school serving students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across a multi-tier lifespan model. Closely comparable to St. Michael in mission, faith-based identity, and age-spanning program structure.
- The New England Center for Children: Special education school and autism research center serving students with autism and related disabilities, with on-site ABA and therapy services. Comparable in specialized instruction, ABA delivery, and parent-funded tuition model.
- The Brown School: Special education day school in Texas serving students with autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral needs through individualized academics and transition programming. Comparable in private special ed school model and tuition structure.
- Woods Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing education, residential, and adult day programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable in lifespan continuum and clinical/therapeutic service integration.
- Riverview School: Private special education day and residential school in Massachusetts for students with complex language, learning, and cognitive disabilities including autism and Down syndrome. Comparable in tuition-based private special ed model and lifespan programming.
- St. Coletta of Wisconsin: Nonprofit special education school serving children and adults with IDD, including autism and developmental disabilities. Comparable in mission, residential/day programming, and transition-to-adulthood services.
Broad incumbents
- Kennedy Krieger Institute: Large nonprofit affiliated with Johns Hopkins providing special education schools, inpatient/outpatient clinical care, and research for children with developmental disabilities and brain disorders. Comparable in IDD special ed population, but operates at significantly larger scale and scope.
Regional players
- Chaminade College Preparatory: Large Catholic K-12 preparatory school in the Midwest serving traditional students. Comparable in Catholic identity, Archdiocese network, and tuition-based private education model, but not focused on special education.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
St. Michael Special School social profiles
Digital presenceSt. Michael Special School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
St. Michael Special School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
St. Michael Special School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
St. Michael Special School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
St. Michael Special School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about St. Michael Special School
What does St. Michael Special School do?
St. Michael Special School provides Catholic special education services for students with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities across four age-based program tiers: Lower School (ages 5-15), Upper School (ages 16-21), Exploration Academy (ages 18-25), and Joy Activity Center (ages 22+). The school supplements academics with on-campus speech, ABA, occupational, and physical therapy, plus vocational training, life skills, and adaptive physical education, delivered in a technology-rich environment on a single New Orleans campus.
Is St. Michael Special School a public or private company?
St. Michael Special School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was St. Michael Special School founded?
St. Michael Special School was founded in 1965. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is St. Michael Special School based?
St. Michael Special School is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does St. Michael Special School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising and community Support and Volunteer Services.
Who are St. Michael Special School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are May Institute, The Lab School of Washington, Cardinal Cushing Centers, The New England Center for Children, The Brown School, Woods Services, Riverview School and St. Coletta of Wisconsin. Kennedy Krieger Institute is listed as a broad incumbent. Chaminade College Preparatory is listed as a regional player.
Does St. Michael Special School have an API?
No public API is recorded for St. Michael Special School.
What industry is St. Michael Special School in?
St. Michael Special School's product category is Special Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAKAH, Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability), with a secondary code of EDAKAAAG, Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22). Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.