The mission of The Phoenix Center, working in partnership with families and community, is to develop the potential of each student with significant developmental disabilities and those on the autism spectrum ages five through 21 and to provide customized, unique and individualized programs aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). Promoting the development of the whole student, we care for, educate and empower our students and graduates so that they may develop life-centered skills which will prepare them for life beyond the classroom.
Our Core Values
The reason we exist is to care for, educate, and empower our students and graduates so that they may develop life-centered skills that maximize their adaptation to adult life . . . to empower each student to rise—like the ancient phoenix—above their disabilities to achieve new levels of success and happiness. To do so, The Phoenix Center operates under the following core values:
- Each student is someone’s son/daughter, brother, sister, niece, nephew, and as such, will be treated with respect and dignity.
- We discover and focus on our students’ abilities, NOT their disabilities.
- We act with honesty and integrity in all situations.
- We live the principles of the FISH! Philosophy: choose your attitude, be present, play, and make someone’s day.
- We provide high-quality programs that are researched-based and designed to meet the individual needs of each student.
Our School Population
Of the students currently enrolled at the school:
- 58+ school districts in 8+ counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Union)
- More than half have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum
- Over 60% require a one-to-one paraprofessional aide
- 40% are either non-verbal or have limited expressive language