Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI) Expands Footprint in Illinois With Opening of the High Road School of Peoria

Second School in the State Furthers SESI’s Commitment to Success for Students with Exceptionalities

PEORIA, Ill., Sept. 30, 2020 —Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and positive behavioral supports, today announced the opening of the High Road School of Peoria (325 W. Romeo B Garrett Avenue, Peoria, IL). The new school marks the second High Road location serving districts across Illinois. Due to COVID-19, classes at the High Road School of Peoria began remotely, with plans for students to resume in-person learning later this fall.

The High Road School of Peoria delivers customized education services for students in grades K-12 (aged 5-21) whose needs cannot be adequately addressed in the traditional classroom. The school’s programs are designed to improve behaviors that impede academic achievement, build transferable life skills, generate positive outcomes, and move students toward a return to their home school classroom reintegration whenever possible.
SESI is committed to providing safe and educational learning spaces for students, and the new school offers area students opportunities for success inside and outside of the classroom. Small class sizes and an impressive 2:10 teacher-to-student ratio enable healthy relationships to flourish in a positive, nurturing, and structured environment.

With the end goal of returning students into their public-school settings, High Road School assists the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team with the most appropriate learning mode based on a given student’s present levels of performance, social capabilities, motor coordination, and ability to learn in a group setting. The school provides recommendations to best meet the needs of each student.

The High Road School of Peoria helps students make the most of learning opportunities by employing certified specialists, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, a licensed clinical social worker, and physical therapists.
“We are thrilled to expand our presence in the state of Illinois,” said Andrea Vargas, president of SESI. “We look forward to working closely with the local community and doing all we can to support school districts and families who deserve nothing but the very best for their children.”

The new High Road location will provide employment opportunities for jobseekers in the community, including special education teachers and paraprofessionals. The school has created over 11 new positions and will have the capacity to serve up to 40 students. Along with the classrooms, teacher offices, and a conference room, the building includes “hang-out” spaces for the students, a motor lab used for indoor recess and occupational therapy, and a kitchen for teaching life skills.

Press Contact

Jennifer Leckstrom
RoseComm for SESI
(215) 681-0770
jleckstrom@rosecomm.com