Some students need less “tradition” and more “alternative” when it comes to being successful in school.High Road School of Wright City is one of the alternatives for students whose health, social or behavior issues are getting in the way of life and learning.“Everybody has the ability to learn. It’s really just a matter of learning what it takes to teach them,” said Aaron O’Neal, the school’s director.The school educates with individualized lesson plans to meet students’ needs.“My goal is to teach them the skills that they need to be successful in their home, schools and in life,” he said.High Road School, a division of Catapult Learning, opened at 275 W. Service Road N. in Wright City in August 2017. The school specializes in helping children who are challenged with Autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, emotional disturbances and learning disabilities.An emotional disturbance is an umbrella term in special education for students with mental health or severe behavioral issues.Autism has become one of the most frequently diagnosed developmental disorders in the United States. Although it is a spectrum disorder, people with autism can have a hard time communicating and socializing. They have a need for routine and have a difficult time with change. They can have intense reactions to sounds, smells, taste, textures, lighting and colors.They can also have behavioral disorders.Traditional schools identify students for the specialized academic services at High Road School.These can oftentimes be the children who show physical or verbal aggression when they are angry, frustrated and unable to communicate their needs.O’Neal said in traditional school, these students might be sent home. At High Road School, the students may get a timeout. It’s a teaching moment. Students stay in school where they can work through their frustration and anger with experts and continue learning.The school offers a physical environment that’s in tune with students’ needs, such as filtered lighting, private rooms for alone time, and more.Students rotate on a schedule through sessions such as life skills training, social skills lab and motor lab work, natural environment teaching, and independent play time.Each rotation is designed to build on the last level and prepare students for the next level.All along, they are learning academics as well as building confidence, social skills, coping skills.Instructors are certified special education teachers or company trained assistant teachers.The school distances itself from negatives and punishment and focuses on positives and rewards.“Over time we see progress. I have not met anyone who has not made progress,” O’Neal said.As students progress, they advance through color levels. Once they reach the gold level, they are ready to return to their “home schools,” the traditional school they previously attended.Reaching gold is no easy task, O’Neal said, because just as students can ascend the color levels, they also can descend the color levels when they have setbacks.As students learn better communication skills and emotional self-regulation, “That’s pretty big for our parents.” O’Neal said.While High Road School of Wright City is in its first year, other High Road schools have been in operation for years. Catapult learning was founded in 1976 is accredited by AdvancED.High Road School serves children from kindergarten to 12th grade and up to 21 years old, if they need the extra time to graduate at their home school. It does not diagnose students.To learn more, call 636-277-0950.Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the teacher to student ratio at the school is one to 15.

Language arts instructor Shannon Larkin works with students during classroom time at High Road School of Wright City. The school opened in August to bring an alternative approach to educating students with learning challenges. 

Record photo/Kate Miller