• Special Schools is a part of the Anchorage Public School District supporting the unique needs of students requiring comprehensive and innovative instruction to achieve success.

     

    Academic instruction is provided at eleven different schools at nine locations within the Anchorage area.  Each school welcomes students with differing academic abilities, developmental and emotional challenges.

     

    Note: Enrollment in our schools is based on being admitted to the programs run by the different agencies.

  • Bragaw Heights

    (North Star Behavioral Health Systems) - 2530 DeBarr Road 

    Bragaw Heights is located on the North Star Behavioral Health Systems (NSBHS) campus and provides acute care for adolescent girls.  This special school provides educational services to students during their stay at NSBH.  Students may earn credit towards graduation.

  • Humphrey Heights

    (Providence Health and Services) – 3210 W 62nd Ave.

    Humphrey Heights provides educational services to adolescent girls in the Providence Adolescent Residential Treatment Program for up to 10 adolescent girls. Students attend school on campus and may have a part-time placement at a local high school or middle school when transitioning out of the program.  Credits are earned towards graduation.

  • McKinley Heights

    (ARCH – Volunteers of America) – 8012 Stewart Mt. Drive, Eagle River

    McKinley Heights provides secondary educational services for adolescent boys and girls in residential treatment for significant substance abuse and mental health concerns.  The average stay in the program is 6 to 7 months.  Students earn credit towards graduation while in residence.

  • Puffin Heights

    (Alaska Behavioral Health) - 4020 Folker Street

    Puffin Heights is located within the Alaska Behavioral Health PHP. We provide educational services for students in grades 3-8. AKBH operates a partial hospitalization program for children ages 9-17, providing an intensive therapy program for children experiencing significant and/or persistent mental health issues.  This is a short-term program, typically lasting 16-21 days, and students are usually referred for treatment by parents/guardians or community agencies.    

  • Cordova Heights

    (VOA Alaska) - 2600 Cordova Street
    VOA's Day Treatment Program serves youth ages 14-18 who remain onsite Monday-Friday for approximately 40 hours a week.  This model provides an atmosphere of recovery and a "one-stop shop" of services in which their education, health & wellness, and behavioral health teams work within a united interdisciplinary team.  This level of care is the only one in Alaska and students are usually referred for treatment by state and private agencies.  

  • Jesse Lee Home

    (Alaska Child and Family) – 4600 Abbott Road

    The Jesse Lee Home is a long-term residential treatment facility serving adolescent boys.  Educational services are provided in two Special School classrooms of approximately 10-15 students each. Credits toward graduation are earned while in attendance.  Youth are referred to the Jesse Lee Home by state and private agencies.

  • Piper Heights

    (Providence Health and Services - CRC) - 3760 Piper Street
    The Providence Crisis Recovery Center (CRC) is a level IV residential program providing subacute psychiatric emergency stabilization services to adolescents 12 to 18 years old.  The average length of stay is 25 days and students are usually referred for treatment by parents/guardians or community agencies.

  • Turning Point Heights

    (North Star Behavioral Health Systems) – 1500 DeBarr Circle

    Turning Points provides educational services to adolescent girls enrolled in the long-term residential program located on North Star Behavioral Health Systems campus. Students earn credit toward graduation while in attendance.    

  • DeBarr Heights

    (North Star Behavioral Health Systems) – 2530 DeBarr Road

    Located on the North Star Behavioral Health Systems campus, DeBarr Heights is an acute care facility serving children and adolescent boys, K-12, for an average stay of 28 days.  The school provides for elementary students, as well as adolescent boys. Students are usually referred for treatment by parents/guardians or community agencies.

  • Maplewood Group Home

    (Alaska Child and Family) – 2311 Maplewood Drive

    Maplewood Group Home is a long-term residential treatment program for secondary adolescent girls.  Credits may be earned toward graduation.  Referrals for treatment are made through state and private agencies. 

  • Providence Heights

    (API) 3700 Piper Street

    Providence Heights provides educational services for secondary students, in acute care at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute.  The classroom serves approximately 12 students at any given time.  Referrals to the facility are made through the police department, court order, parent or legal guardian.