Oak Hill School serves students in grades 1st through 12+, in the following areas of exceptionality: autism spectrum disorders, speech-language impairment, cognitive impairment, specific learning disabilities, and other health impairments.

Programming includes individualized instruction provided by credentialed special educators; and on-site speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, and psychotherapy.

Instruction is individualized for each student based on specific developmental profiles and longitudinal (i.e. transition-oriented) planning. Some students focus on critically important life skills, functional literacy, and real-life mathematical problem-solving. Other students access their grade-level curriculum, with appropriately accommodated and modified instructional strategies.

Oak Hill School serves students with autism and related neurodevelopmental differences. Students range from non-verbal and emerging verbal students on a broad developmental continuum that also includes students with highly developed verbal skills who may have difficulty succeeding in a typical classroom setting due to neurological challenges consistent with those of autism spectrum disorder. These may include challenges in the areas of communication, social interaction and sensory motor integration.

Our goal is to determine if the individual strengths and challenges of each child can be served optimally by placement at Oak Hill in the classroom positions that may be available at the time of application. 

Oak Hill School’s campus is adjacent to undeveloped open space. This makes for ideal hiking and nature exploration. Oak Hill students have access to the outdoor pool (weather permitting), shared-use athletic fields, and gymnasium adjacent to classroom spaces.

Students also have ready access to outdoor play structures; a sensory gym, featuring swings and climbing equipment; computer equipment; pianos and other musical instruments; and two kitchens.

Oak Hill School’s approach is highly developmentally-focused, individualized, and relationship-based; however, with a more eclectic approach, we no longer primarily identify as a Floortime environment. Teachers and therapists employ a range of instructional and clinical approaches, including experiential learning; sensory integration; emotional regulation; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); community-based instruction; computer-based instruction; Treatment and Education for Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH); social cognition; and specialized instructional techniques in literacy and mathematics.

Examples include:

City College of San Francisco with a high school diploma through SF Unified School District

College of Marin

Eaton Cognitive Improvement Centre

Threshold at Lesley University

The ARC Program, San Francisco

Autistry Studios

Employment at Bed & Biscuit doggie Salon and Spa, employment

Self-employment with online greeting card business: www.artabas.com

CLE: College Living Experience in Monterey and Denver

Graduation to less restrictive high school settings with typically developing peers, and diploma receipts.

First Mate on a commercial fishing boat based out of San Francisco

Yes. Oak Hill School is certified by the California Department of Education as a non-public, non-sectarian school (NPS). Students are placed here by their public school districts, based on the decision of the student’s individualized education program (IEP) team. Oak Hill School contracts with numerous school districts across the region to provide these services to their students. And, some students are privately placed in the school.

Students who are placed at the school through their school districts have transportation provided by the school district, by school bus, car service, or mileage reimbursement to parents and guardians. Oak Hill School also operates a van service with stops at Serramonte Center in Daly City, the Golden Gate Bridge, and southern Marin.  Golden Gate Transit bus stops are located near campus.

Oak Hill School students currently range in chronological age from 6 to 22. Within that age range, students generally fall into mild to severe categories, including students considered high-functioning ASD.

Yes. Oak Hill students experience neurologically based challenges in the areas of speech and language, sensori-motor and social development.

These would be disorders considered to be neurodevelopmental in origin or to have neurodevelopmental consequences when they occur in infancy and childhood, and include autism and autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injury, and communication, speech and language disorders. 

The school maintains three vans for transporting students on field trips, to and from therapeutic horseback riding, and one van transports students who live south of San Francisco.