Admissions
Enrollment Information
Our Philosophy
To benefit from The Lionheart School’s program, students need to be able to participate in small groups for at least a portion of the day. Rather than focusing on diagnosis, we look at each child’s functional developmental levels — targeting developmental challenges with developmental solutions. Through a collaborative assessment process involving teachers, therapists, and families, we identify areas of strength and areas of need, and develop a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program tailored to each student’s individual profile.
Our Admissions Process
Contact the School
Lionheart has limited spaces available for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. We ask that you call our office at 770.772.4555 or email schooloffice@thelionheartschool.com to answer initial questions and speak with our Head of School.
Apply
Once you have contacted the school and spoken with a member of our staff, you may submit an application. Applications can be sent by mail, faxed or emailed. Download and fill out the editable PDF version and either email or print and submit it in person. download paper application(fillable pdf).
If you are completing a paper application, please return the application along with other required documents and a picture of your child to: The Lionheart School, 225 Roswell Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 | FAX: 770.772.1871 EMAIL: schooloffice@thelionheartschool.com
**If you are interested in Lionheart WORKS, our vocational education program for students 18 and older, please CLICK HERE. The admissions process for Lionheart WORKS is completely independent from the school admissions process.
Review & Visit
Lionheart reviews each application and, if appropriate, will set up a visit with the child. The first visit will be a short visit with the Head of School, Elizabeth Dulin and/or the Head of Therapeutic Services, Victoria McBride. The child will also be required to make a second, longer visit to spend time in a classroom. Lionheart requires these visits with the child before any admission decisions can be made.
Notification
Lionheart will notify parent by phone or in writing if a decision has been reached, or if more visits are needed.
Acceptance
If accepted, an enrollment contract will be issued and a $3,300 non-refundable deposit will be required within 10 business days.
The Lionheart School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What population of children does Lionheart serve?
The Lionheart School serves children who have core challenges with relating, communicating, and abstract critical thinking. We currently accept students diagnosed with Autism, a nonverbal learning disability, language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, sensory integration disorder, or other neurodevelopmental diagnoses.
Lionheart WORKS is a transition program that provides individuals, 18 and older, with customized work experiences while teaching basic employment skills.
What makes Lionheart unique?
Lionheart uses a developmental relationship-based approach to learning. Lionheart looks at the student’s individual profile, the student’s strengths and challenges and develops a unique program that fits their individual needs. Lionheart recognizes that every student, even with the same diagnosis, is very different. The favorable staff to student ratio allows us to develop an individualized program, to evaluate each child throughout the year and modify the program as needed. Lionheart stresses the importance of addressing the sensory underpinnings of a child’s developmental difficulties. We look milestones of development, and work on gaps that may exist, to enable each child to stabilize and build the foundation needed to move forward. Lionheart utilizes the DIR® model of Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Dr. Serena Wieder as its foundation. Our commitment is to work closely with the parents and other professionals to meet each child’s needs.
Why is Lionheart a better choice for some?
Inclusion in a school setting is something many families consider — and for some children, at the right moment in their development, it works. However, for some families, there comes a point when the promise of inclusion doesn’t match what their child is actually experiencing. As academic and social demands increase, some children don’t grow into the setting — they retreat from it. They become more isolated, not less. More disconnected from their peers, not more.
What children with diverse needs deserve most is a place where they are genuinely understood — where their developmental profile shapes every decision, and where they are seen, known and respected for exactly who they are.
Lionheart is that place.
We believe that real inclusion — the kind where a child belongs, connects, and contributes — has to be built from the inside out. Before a student can thrive alongside typical peers, they need a foundation: in communication, in relationships, in confidence, in critical thinking. That foundation is what we strive to build every single day.
Many of our students go on to successfully participate in inclusive environments — and when they do, they’re ready. They don’t just attend; they connect. They contribute. And everyone benefits.
No two children are alike, and no single setting fits every child. For families ready for something more than a traditional placement can offer, Lionheart is where that something more takes shape.
Does Lionheart have classes and homework?
Each student is assigned to a classroom, but each student’s schedule is tailored to their individual profile. Student schedules include reading, math, science, social studies and literature. Co-curricular activities include art, yoga, physical education, kitchen science, music and drama. We offer weekly school-based club electives based on affinities. Shared experiences, project-based learning, special interest topics and community based activities are embedded throughout the school year. Homework is also based on the individual profile and given when appropriate.
How does Lionheart provide opportunities for social interaction?
Lionheart provides an intensive and highly specialized program. Social development is a priority. Our experience has been that children make the best progress by interacting with other children in small groups within planned settings and when opportunities arise naturally. For many children with social and communication challenges, large groups can be overwhelming due to excessive sensory input. It is very difficult to extract the necessary information from rapidly changing social settings. With this in mind, we structure interactions in a supportive setting facilitated by skilled adults. We provide more challenging and complex interactive experiences when a student is ready.
Should my child continue to go to private therapy (OT, Speech, Psychologist)?
Although our program is very intensive and covers many areas of development, some children need to continue with private therapy. This of course depends on the child and up to the discretion of the parents and private therapists involved. We work closely with and other outside professionals as needed and are available to discuss your child’s comprehensive program with them.
How is Lionheart funded?
Tuition, foundation grants, fundraising events, and contributions from individuals, community organizations, and corporations provide Lionheart’s operating expenses. Volunteerism and in kind donations from parents, board members, and the community are also extremely important to Lionheart’s sustainability. As an accredited school, we accept scholarship funding from the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program (SB10) and the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program.
Why does Lionheart put value on Emotional Intelligence?
Many years of research and observation support the idea that the most effective way to teach children analytic reasoning is through opportunities that involve more “emotional experience”. Observations suggest that emotional interactions play a far more critical role in intellectual functioning. Emotions are actually the internal architects, conductors, or organizers of our minds. They tell us what to think, what to say, when to say it, and what to do. We “know” things through our emotional interactions and then apply that knowledge to the cognitive world. The ability to understand another person’s feelings and care about how he or she feels can only arise out of a series of nurturing interactions. Even academic and cognitive concepts in math are based on early emotional experiences. “A lot” or “a little” has certain emotion-driven interpretations. We can best help our children develop tools for mastery by continually offering them nurturing emotional interactions. (Dr. Stanley Greenspan, Building Healthy Minds, p.8-11).
Does Lionheart have a waiting list?
Lionheart rarely keeps a student on a wait list. If a child is not accepted for the upcoming school year, we attempt to help the family find another school setting or suggest that a new application be submitted for the following year.
Can my child start at Lionheart during the school year?
We will accept students throughout the year if there is an opening in a classroom and the student fits the age group and profile for that classroom. However, we make every effort to fill our classrooms before the start of school in August. Please submit your application as soon as possible to be considered for placement during the school year.
What is Lionheart’s tuition?
Tuition for the 2026-2027 school year is $33,000. Limited financial aid is available.
Does Lionheart accept Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program (SB10)?
Lionheart is a state-approved school that accepts SB10 vouchers. Families interested in this funding option should contact the Georgia Department of Education directly for information on qualifications and estimated funding amounts. Once a student is accepted and enrolled at Lionheart, we will notify the state on your behalf. Voucher funds are sent directly to the school. Lionheart requires families to adhere to its tuition payment schedule. SB-10 is a tuition reimbursement program – funds are not applied directly to a student’s annual tuition.
How long does it take to review an application? When will I hear back from Lionheart?
We make every effort to review an application as quickly as possible. It typically takes a week to review an application. It may take a little longer during the summer (when we are not fully staffed) and during the Winter Holidays. If you do not hear back from us within 2 weeks of submitting your application, please feel free to call us for a status update.
