Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School: therapeutic day program in Chicago, IL, for emotional/behavioral support, ages 6-21
Located in Chicago, IL, the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School is a coeducational, nonsectarian therapeutic day program for children and adolescents ages 6 to 21 facing behavioral or emotional challenges. The school provides a specialized environment for students with learning differences and ADD/ADHD, focusing on individual strengths and developmental needs. The school features an average class size of 10, with 85% of the faculty holding advanced degrees.
The curriculum integrates therapeutic care with extracurriculars, including art, music, dance, yoga, and clubs such as Poetry or Dungeons and Dragons. To foster independence, the school offers Job Readiness Training and a Student Work Program to build practical life skills. Operating on a rolling admissions basis, the school provides summer programs and maintains a casual dress code. The Orthogenic School serves as a model for integrated treatment and education, offering comprehensive support for both the student and their family.
| School Type | Special Education School |
| Year Founded | 1915 |
| Total Students | 111 |
| Total Classroom Teachers | 59 |
| Percent of Faculty with Advanced Degree | 85 |
| Average Class Size | 10 |
| Grades Offered | 4-12 |
| Admissions Director | Kristin Friesen, LCSW |
| Admissions Associate | Brian Graves |
| Admission Deadline | None / Rolling |
| Student Body Type | Co-ed |
| Percent of Students of Color | 39 |
| Clubs and Organizations | Club or Organization: · Board Games Group · Career Day · Corporate Leadership Day · Dance Group · Dungeons and Dragons Club · Infectious Tees · Job Readiness Training · Louder than a Bomb Poetry Slam (Young Chicago Authors/O-School English Department) · Orthogenique (literary magazine) · Poetry Club · Shakespeare Slam (Chicago Shakespeare Theater/O-School English Department) · Sports Group · Student Work Program · Yellow Door Chronicles (student newspaper) · Yoga Club · Arts and Music Programs: · Art Club · choir · Dance · music · Shakespeare |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual |
| School Memberships | National Association of Private Special Education Centers · Other school association(s) |
| Religious Affiliations | Nonsectarian |
| School Calendar | www.oschool.org/calendar |
| Summer School Offered | Yes |
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