We were founded in 1968 by Jeanette Bowling and Evelyn Wiseman. These two extraordinary women saw a profound need to provide a more effective learning approach for children with learning disabilities. Today, New Way Learning Academy is one of the few private day schools in Arizona working solely with students with learning disabilities. We teach the way your child learns.  

We have been serving children with learning differences in grades K-12 for 40 years. New Way is approved by the Arizona State Department of Special Education to serve students with learning disabilities and meets state mandated standards and guidelines. Our enrollment is approximately 140 students, and we have 41 staff members. We have a student to staff ratio of 7:1. We are the only private school in the state that provides such a specialized education for children with learning disabilities in grades K-12. Our philosophy is that the school meets the needs of each student. 

Our students enjoy a full range of academic classes, plus art, physical education, computer technology, field trips and more.

Our faculty of more than 40 teachers/specialists includes certified special education teachers and reading specialists, a Speech-Language Pathologist, an Occupational Therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapists.

Our campus features a comprehensive and cozy library, a state-of-the-art technology lab, a fabulous playground, charming children's gardens, and generous spaces for displaying student art and writing. We also offer after-school activities and a therapeutic summer program.

We use proven, research-based strategies to help students with learning differences succeed and gain confidence. Specialized programs and curriculum include:

  • Wilson Reading System
  • Lindamood Bell Learning Processes
  • Schools Attuned Program
  • Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence (S.P.I.R.E.)
  • Read Naturally
  • Step Up to Writing
  • Handwriting Without Tears
  • Metacognitive Strategies for Vocabulary

We prepare students to transition back to traditional school settings or graduate from New Way Learning Academy ready for exciting new opportunities.

What experts are saying...

"I worry for the student with significant learning disabilities. These are the children and youth that New Way so ably serves. I thank them for keeping the dream alive...and doing the right things for students. They do great and important work."
Kathryn A. Lund, Ph.D. Arizona State University