Supports and Services
Academic excellence and personal wellbeing are not separate goals at ASD. They go hand in hand, and we invest deeply in both.
ASD is a rigorous school, and we know that thriving here requires more than academic ability. It requires confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of support. That is why our counseling and student services team is one of the most active parts of our community, working alongside students from 5th grade through senior year to make sure they have what they need, not just to succeed academically, but to feel well, connected, and ready for whatever comes next.
Our counselors work individually with students on everything from stress and anxiety to peer conflict, life transitions, and college planning. They teach in classrooms, lead advisory sessions, and run focused group programs on topics like social skills, stress management, and preparing for life after graduation. When students face acute challenges, the team provides immediate support and connects families with the right resources in the broader community.
We also recognize that students learn and thrive in different ways. Our Student Services Coordinator works closely with sending districts to ensure all IEP and 504 accommodations are met, and we have dedicated programming and staffing for English Language Learners and students experiencing homelessness. For students who benefit from additional structure, Directed Study periods, peer tutoring, and the option to work with high school teaching assistants provide meaningful academic support throughout the day.
At the heart of our support program is a trauma-informed community space called Positive Connections, known on campus as +Conn. Open to students in grades 7 through 12, +Conn offers a lower-stress environment where students can build emotional regulation skills, find peer support, and develop strategies for managing anxiety, overstimulation, and challenging circumstances. It is one of those things that is hard to describe until you see it in action, and students who use it consistently say it makes a real difference.
ASD's academic program can be very demanding. Supporting students through that demand, academically, emotionally, and personally, is not an afterthought. It is part of how we operate.
And then there is Caramel, our therapy dog, now in her third year at ASD. She works with individual students and small groups, and has a particular gift for helping students with anxiety feel comfortable reaching out for support. Sometimes the right introduction to counseling is a wagging tail.