Finding the Right School Is a Big Decision.
Learn about A-FITS, share your child's needs, explore funding, and determine whether our program is the right fit.
Choosing a new school for your child can feel overwhelming. You may be trying to understand whether the environment will be right, whether your child will be supported, how academics will work, how tuition and ESA fit into the process, and—most importantly—whether your child will actually FIT here.
At A-FITS, we want the admissions process to answer those questions—not create more of them.
Start With a Conversation
Many families begin simply by contacting us and telling us about their child.
We may ask about age and grade, autism diagnosis, current placement, academic strengths, communication, Sensory Integration needs, social development, behavior, independence, previous services, existing evaluations or educational records, what is currently working, what is not working, and what you hope will be different in a new school.
This conversation helps us understand what brought your family to A-FITS and which campus or program may be most appropriate to explore.
Schedule a Campus Tour
We strongly encourage prospective families to visit an A-FITS campus.
A website can explain our philosophy. A tour allows you to experience it.
During your visit, you can learn about our small-school model, approximately 4:1 student-to-staff ratios not including the classroom teacher, FITS Learning™, High Functioning Autism Programming, Functional Academic Programming, FITS Integrated Support™, Speech and Occupational Therapy, School Based ABA, Sensory Integration, Social-Emotional Learning, FITS Life™, FITS Experience™, FITS Beyond™, Elementary, Middle, and High School programming, FITS Forward™, RISE Extended School Day, tuition and ESA, and campus-specific services.
A tour is not simply about showing you the school. It is the beginning of determining whether the school fits the student.
Who We Serve
A-FITS is an autism-specialized private school serving students diagnosed with autism across a broad range of learning and support needs, including students who may be described as requiring Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 support.
Some students are academically capable and may participate in our High Functioning Autism Programming, including grade-level or more traditional academic pathways.
Other students benefit from Functional Academic Programming that connects academics more directly to communication, daily living, community participation, employment, and independence.
Many students need a combination of both.
A-FITS is not a behavior school, and admission is not automatic simply because a student has an autism diagnosis. Our responsibility is to determine whether the available program, campus, classroom, staffing, and supports can appropriately meet the individual student's needs.
Complete the Application
If you believe A-FITS may be a good fit, the next step is completing the admissions application and gathering the documents listed on our Admissions Checklist.
Records may include a birth certificate, proof of residency, immunization records, existing IEP, MET or other evaluation reports, academic records, progress reports, therapy information, behavior information when applicable, ESA information when applicable, and other records that help us understand the student.
Why We Ask for IEPs, METs & Evaluations
These records can provide important historical information about evaluations, previous educational programming, academic performance, communication, therapy, behavior, identified needs, accommodations, previous goals, and supports that have been tried.
However, A-FITS is a private school and develops its own Individualized Learning Plan (ILP).
The paperwork tells us where the student has been. Our job is to understand who the student is today.
Application Review
Once the application and relevant records are received, our team reviews the student's information.
We consider academic profile, communication, Sensory Integration needs, behavior, social development, independence, current supports, classroom needs, student age, program fit, campus availability, classroom availability, and staffing and support requirements.
In some cases, we may request additional information before making a placement decision.
The purpose is not to create unnecessary barriers. It is to make responsible placement decisions for both the prospective student and the students already enrolled in the classroom.
Acceptance & Enrollment
If A-FITS determines that we can appropriately support the student and space is available, the family can move into enrollment.
At that point, our team will review campus placement, start date, tuition, ESA or other funding, required enrollment documents, RISE Extended School Day if needed, transportation availability, and other program considerations.
A seat is not considered secured simply because an application has been submitted. Required admissions and enrollment steps must be completed before placement is finalized.
Tuition & Funding
A-FITS is a tuition-based private school.
Families may pay tuition privately or may be able to use eligible educational funding, including Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Other scholarship opportunities may also be available through Arizona School Tuition Organizations (STOs).
Admission determines whether A-FITS is an appropriate placement. Funding determines how tuition may be paid.
Empowerment Scholarship Account — ESA
A-FITS accepts Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account funding.
The ESA program is administered by the Arizona Department of Education and gives eligible families access to educational funds that may be used for approved educational expenses, including qualifying private-school tuition.
Families are responsible for completing the ESA application and meeting Arizona Department of Education requirements. A-FITS can help families understand how ESA works within our enrollment and tuition process.
School Tuition Organizations — STOs
Arizona School Tuition Organizations may provide scholarships that help families with private-school tuition.
Different STO scholarship programs have their own applications, eligibility requirements, deadlines, award criteria, restrictions, and funding availability.
A-FITS can provide general information about scholarship resources, but scholarship awards are determined by the individual scholarship organizations.
Our 30-Day Commitment
Enrollment is only the beginning.
During the student's first 30 days, our team intentionally works to understand, assess, and build the initial direction of the student's A-FITS Individualized Learning Plan.
Days 1–10: Understand. Days 11–20: Assess. Days 21–30: Build. Day 30 and Beyond: Implement. Measure. Adjust.
Video + Audio Monitored Classrooms
Every A-FITS classroom is video and audio monitored.
For families, this is an important part of our commitment to student safety, transparency, accountability, and trust. Many students with autism may have communication differences or may not always be able to fully explain what happened during a school day. Classroom monitoring gives school leadership an additional source of objective information when reviewing incidents, behavior patterns, staff practices, safety concerns, or classroom situations.
Monitoring can also help leadership identify antecedents and patterns, coach staff, review the context surrounding an event, and support continuous improvement without relying only on memory or secondhand accounts.
Video and audio monitoring are managed by A-FITS in accordance with school procedures and student privacy expectations.
RISE Extended School Day
RISE Extended School Day provides before- and after-school programming at all A-FITS campuses.
RISE is designed to provide students with a familiar environment where they can connect with peers, participate in recreation, decompress, engage in activities, practice social interaction, and remain with staff who understand the A-FITS environment.
Availability and hours vary by campus.
Transportation
A-FITS transportation is currently offered through the Glendale Campus only and is operating on a waitlist.
Glendale transportation is a home-to-school service provided in A-FITS passenger vans. Scottsdale/PV and Mesa do not currently offer A-FITS transportation.
Enrollment does not guarantee transportation availability.
From Application to First Day
- Talk With Us — Tell us about your child and what you are looking for.
- Tour A-FITS — See the school, learn about the program, and meet our team.
- Apply — Complete the application and submit required records.
- Review — Our team reviews your child's educational and support needs.
- Determine Fit — We determine whether A-FITS can appropriately support the student.
- Complete Enrollment — Finalize enrollment documents, funding arrangements, and campus placement.
- Begin the First 30 — We begin learning who your child is and building their individualized A-FITS program.
You Don't Have to Navigate It Alone
Families often come to us after a school experience that was not working. Some know exactly what they are looking for. Others only know that something needs to change.
You do not need to arrive knowing every A-FITS program, understanding ESA completely, or knowing exactly which academic pathway your child belongs in.
Start by telling us about your child. We can take it from there.
Have More Questions?
Our Frequently Asked Questions cover academics, PDA profiles, MDSSI, Speech and OT, School Based ABA, Sensory Integration, classroom monitoring, ESA, transportation, RISE, high school, transition planning, and more.
The School Needs to FIT Your Child.
Come experience A-FITS and talk with our team about your child's strengths, learning profile, support needs, and goals.
Schedule a Tour