Many parents searching for schools for students with ADHD in Arizona have watched their child struggle in a classroom that wasn’t built for the way they learn. Class size is a big part of the problem: Arizona has the highest student-to-teacher ratio in the country, averaging nearly 23 students per teacher in public schools. With that many students to manage, teachers have little room to adjust the pace of a lesson, cut down on distractions, or give a student with ADHD the individual attention that helps them stay on track or tackle new concepts.
The result is often a child who falls behind, or one who works twice as hard just to keep up. Over time, that can show up as missed assignments, school anxiety, low self-confidence, and a growing reluctance to go to school at all. Research shows that students with ADHD are 3x more likely to repeat a grade than their peers.
An IEP or 504 plan can help, with accommodations like extra time on tests or breaking an exam into shorter sessions. But for many students, more time doesn’t address the underlying issue: a learning environment that isn’t built for how their brain works.
Arizona families have more options than most when it comes to finding a better fit, and the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program can put private school tuition within reach. This article will discuss those options and more. We’ll cover:
- Fusion Academy, a fully accredited private school with personalized learning and campuses in Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Pinnacle Peak
- Other schools in Arizona that support students with ADHD, grouped by city across Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson
- How Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program can help cover tuition, and where charter schools fit in
- What to look for when choosing a school for a child with ADHD
1. Fusion Academy: One-to-One Private School for Students with ADHD in Arizona
Fusion Academy is a fully accredited private school for grades 4–12, with Arizona campuses in Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Pinnacle Peak. Students can also enroll through Fusion Global Academy for online classes, or choose a hybrid schedule that blends both in-person and online learning.
At Fusion, classes are taught one-to-one, with one teacher and one student, or in small groups of two to five students. This structure removes many of the barriers students with ADHD face in a traditional classroom. There’s no class of 20+ to keep pace with, fewer distractions competing for their attention, and a teacher who can adjust the lesson to the student in front of them.
Fusion’s model works well for a wide range of students, but it’s particularly suited to Arizona families whose child hasn’t found their footing in a traditional school, like those with ADHD. That also includes students with anxiety, dyslexia, or executive function challenges, as well as gifted and twice-exceptional students who need more challenge in some subjects and more support in others.
How Fusion Supports Students with ADHD
Because most classes are one-to-one, Fusion teachers can adapt in the moment, tailoring the lesson to what a student needs that day. For students with ADHD, this can look like:
- Building movement into class. If a student arrives restless, the teacher can move the lesson to the whiteboard or turn it into a “walk and talk,” so the student isn’t spending their energy trying to sit still.
- Breaking work into manageable steps. Teachers can split a large assignment or complex concept into smaller pieces, so it’s easier for the student to get started and stay engaged.
- Working with a student’s focus windows. Students with ADHD often work best in short bursts. Teachers can pace a lesson around those windows, and families can schedule classes at the times of day their student learns best.
- Reducing sensory distractions. Noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, flexible seating, or dimmed lights can help a student stay regulated and focused.
Fusion teachers also act as mentors, helping students build the executive function skills that ADHD makes harder, like planning, prioritizing, starting tasks, and keeping track of deadlines. Over time, a teacher might walk a student through breaking down a project, show them how to take notes that help them focus, or help them set up a calendar system so assignments don’t slip through the cracks. The goal is to help students understand what their brain needs to learn, rather than how to suppress it.
“I was able to better myself and become the best version of myself in all different aspects, including academics, social interactions, friends, and just who I am as a person.”
A Personalized Plan from Day One
To make sure we’re meeting a student’s needs from the start, enrollment begins with a conversation between the family and the Head of School about the student’s goals, their experience at their previous school, and the challenges they’ve faced with ADHD.
We also ask prospective students to complete two assessments:
- MAP® Growth, an adaptive test covering reading, math, and language usage, which shows where a student is already strong and where they need support.
- MindPrint, a cognitive assessment that gives teachers insight into how a student processes information, including executive function, reasoning, and processing speed.
Together, these help us build an individualized learning plan. This means at Fusion, a student starts school with curriculum already shaped around how they learn. Teachers continue to refine that plan as they get to know the student.
The benefits of this personalized approach show up in the results. Based on MAP® testing, Fusion students’ reading scores grow 39% more year over year than their peers nationally, and math scores grow 40% more. Among Fusion’s Class of 2025:
- 99% of applicants were accepted to a four-year college
- 87.5% are attending their first-choice school
- 51% received merit scholarships, averaging $58,303
Note for families whose child has an IEP or 504 plan: We can review your child’s existing IEP or 504 plan to see if accommodations can be realistically made within our framework. Often the one-to-one format also makes it easier to provide the accommodations those plans call for, like extended time, shorter assignments, or assistive technology.
Academic Programs and Outcomes
Fusion offers more than 300 courses across essential, college preparatory, honors, and AP® levels, and students can mix levels in the same year. A student with ADHD who struggles in math class may take an essential level math course, which gives the required credit for graduation, while taking an AP® or honors course in a subject they thrive in academically.
Fusion also runs open enrollment, so students can join at any point in the year. Once a student finishes a course, they can start the next one right away rather than waiting for a new semester.
Beyond full-time enrollment at our middle school and high school programs, Arizona families can also utilize:
- Classes for credit, to make up a class, get ahead, or take a course their current school doesn’t offer
- Tutoring and mentoring, including specialized support for executive function and structured math and reading intervention programs
- Summer programs, for credit recovery, enrichment, or getting ahead
- Post-secondary counseling, covering college applications, scholarships, and alternatives like gap years, vocational programs, and military service
Fusion students have been accepted to Arizona universities including Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, as well as top universities across the country.
Campus Life at Fusion in Arizona
Fusion’s Arizona campuses are intentionally small, typically 100 students or fewer. That makes it easier for students to form friendships and find a sense of belonging, without the noise and crowds of a large school.
Much of campus life happens in the Homework Café, which generally has two spaces:
- The Quiet Homework Café, where students study and complete assignments in a calm, library-like setting with teachers nearby to help. This time is built into each student’s schedule, so homework gets done on campus instead of turning into a nightly battle at home.
- The Social Homework Café, where students eat lunch, collaborate, and take part in clubs and events.
Clubs are student-led and vary by campus. Across our Arizona campuses, current clubs include D&D, anime, cosplay, cooking, music, improv, Magic: The Gathering, ASL, art, creative writing, and student government.
Students also give back through Fusion’s Community Action Program. Recently, students at Fusion Scottsdale partnered with the Foster Alliance to collect donations for a holiday toy drive.
Find a Fusion Academy Campus in Arizona
Fusion’s Arizona campuses are ESA-approved and open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Both run regular events for prospective families, including open houses, so it’s easy to visit and see the model in action.
| Fusion Academy Scottsdale 8700 N. Gainey Center Drive | Fusion Academy Pinnacle Peak Opening early 2027 |
| Fusion Academy Gilbert 400 E. Rivulon Boulevard |
More Schools for Students with ADHD in Arizona
Arizona has a growing number of private schools built around students who learn differently. Some focus specifically on ADHD, while others serve a broader range of learning differences. Below, we look at options across Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson.
Schools for Students with ADHD in Gilbert
2. PS Academy: “The Typical School for Atypical Learners”
PS Academy is a private middle and high school for neurodivergent students, including students with ADHD, autism, and anxiety. Students are grouped into classes by ability rather than age, so a student can work at the right level in each subject.
Outside the classroom, PS Academy’s strength is its clubs and electives, which include rock band, musical theater, YouTube and movie making, cake decorating, camping, D&D, and sports. The school also runs a Friendship and Dating Do’s and Don’ts club to help teens build confidence in social situations, and a transition program, LYFE Launch, for life after high school.
PS Academy suits a family whose teen wants a full social experience among peers who learn the way they do.
- Address: 5222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 108, Gilbert, AZ 85234
- Phone: 480-309-4792
3. Sierra School of Gilbert: Structured Support for Academic, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs
Sierra School of Gilbert is a K–12 private day school for students with academic, emotional, and behavioral needs. It runs three pathways: Spark, for students with strong academic potential alongside behavioral or emotional challenges; Spring, for students with learning disabilities, autism, or communication delays; and Bloom, for students with significant cognitive or physical impairments.
The school offers smaller, structured classrooms, plus speech therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, sensory rooms, and a motor lab on campus.
Sierra suits a family whose child with ADHD also needs significant behavioral or emotional support during the school day.
- Address: 875 South Cooper Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233
- Phone: 480-456-0942
Schools for Students with ADHD in Scottsdale
4. True North Academy: A Microschool for Younger Students
True North Academy is a private microschool in Scottsdale for neurodivergent students in grades 1–8, including students with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and anxiety.
Each classroom has a lead teacher certified in special education, supported by a teaching aide. Each school day begins with 30 minutes of social-emotional learning, where students practice mindfulness and learn tools to identify and manage their emotions. The school also offers dyslexia remediation, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.
True North suits a family with a younger child who needs a calm, small setting and built-in support for both learning and emotional regulation.
-
- Address: 9832 N. Hayden Road, Suite 217, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
- Phone: 480-801-6499
5. AZ Aspire Academy: One-to-One Math and English Across Four Valley Campuses
AZ Aspire Academy is a Cognia-accredited private school with campuses in Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, and Litchfield Park. Students take math and English language arts one-to-one, at their own private desk, and take subjects like science, social studies, art, and STEM in small groups.
That mix gives students focused attention in the subjects they often find hardest, while still giving them time with peers in more interactive classes.
AZ Aspire suits a family looking for one-to-one instruction in core subjects at a campus close to home, wherever they are in the Valley.
- Address: 11130 E Cholla Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85259
- Phone: 480-420-6630
Schools for Students with ADHD in Phoenix
6. Gateway Academy: College Prep for Bright and Twice-Exceptional Students
Gateway Academy is a private school for bright and twice-exceptional students in grades 6–12, with a student-teacher ratio of 12:1 in middle school and 14:1 in high school. Many students enroll with an autism diagnosis or a current IEP.
Gateway focuses on building organization, planning, and self-advocacy skills, giving students more independence over their schedules and deadlines as they progress. It’s also built for college preparation: high school students can take ASU courses on campus through ASU Accelerate, and students can choose a college prep diploma or a career-focused Penn Foster diploma.
Gateway suits a family whose academically strong teen needs support with executive function and wants a head start on college credit.
- Address: 3939 E. Shea Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85028
- Phone: 480-998-1071
7. New Way Academy: K–12 Support for Learning Differences and Executive Function
New Way Academy is a K–12 independent day school in Phoenix for students with learning differences such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and executive functioning difficulties. Classes are small, and teaching is multisensory and evidence-based.
The school offers speech-language, occupational, and reading therapy on-site, along with counseling, social skills training, athletics, and clubs.
New Way suits a family whose child’s ADHD comes with a co-occurring learning difference that needs specialized intervention.
- Address: 5048 E. Oak Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008
- Phone: 602-389-8600
Schools for Students with ADHD in Tempe
8. The Austin Centers for Exceptional Students (ACES): Intensive Support Across Five Campuses
The Austin Centers for Exceptional Students (ACES) is a K–12 private special education school for students with complex academic and behavioral needs. Alongside Tempe, ACES has campuses in Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Peoria, and Phoenix.
ACES keeps a low student-to-staff ratio and offers accredited elementary, middle, and high school programs, so students graduate with a recognized diploma. Its Jump Start program helps high school students build workplace and social skills.
ACES suits a family whose child needs more behavioral and emotional support than a typical private school can provide.
- Address: 1515 S. Indian Bend Road, Tempe, AZ 85281
- Phone: 480-820-5186
Schools for Students with ADHD and Autism in Tucson
9. The Abbie School: A Sensory-Friendly Campus in the Heart of Tucson
The Abbie School is a WASC-accredited private school in Tucson. Most of its students have a diagnosis of autism, ADHD, a learning disability, or sensory processing disorder, and the school keeps a maximum student-to-staff ratio of 8:1.
The school is designed as a sensory-sensitive environment, with a wooded campus that includes a garden, goats, and chickens. Electives like art, music, and urban farming build independence alongside academics.
The Abbie School suits a Southern Arizona family looking for a calm, sensory-friendly school for a child with ADHD or autism.
- Address: 5870 E. 14th Street, Tucson, AZ 85711
- Phone: 520-300-6103
Paying for a School for Your Child with ADHD in Arizona
Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program
Arizona’s ESA program lets families put a portion of their child’s state education funding toward private education. It launched in 2011 for students with disabilities, and today any Arizona student eligible to attend public school can apply, regardless of household income. Nearly 94,000 students received an ESA in the first quarter of the 2025–26 school year, according to the Arizona Department of Education.
Nearly two-thirds of ESA awards fall between $7,000 and $8,000 per year. Students with disabilities can qualify for significantly more, which is worth knowing if your child has an ADHD diagnosis and an IEP or 504 plan.
ESA funds can be used for:
- Private school tuition, including online schools
- Tutoring from a credentialed tutor
- Textbooks and curriculum
- Laptops and computers used for schoolwork
- Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT
- College courses taken during high school
Families apply through the Arizona Department of Education’s ESA portal. Fusion Academy’s Arizona campuses are ESA-approved, so families can use their funds toward full-time tuition, classes for credit, tutoring, and summer programs. Many other schools on this list, including PS Academy and True North Academy, also accept ESA funding.
A Tuition-Free Option: Arizona Charter Schools
If private school isn’t the right fit, Arizona’s charter schools are another option. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools, and many are smaller or more specialized than a typical district school. You can search the full list through the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools.
Most charter schools aren’t designed specifically for students with ADHD. But as public schools, they’re required to provide the services and accommodations in a student’s IEP or 504 plan, which can give your child more support than they’ve had before.
Find the Right School for Your Child with ADHD in Arizona
ADHD looks different in every child, so the best school for one student may not suit another. As you tour schools and compare options, it helps to ask these questions:
- Class size and individual attention: How many students are in a typical class, and how much one-to-one time will your child get with a teacher? For many students with ADHD, this is the clearest signal of whether a school can adapt to them.
- Flexibility during the school day: Can teachers adjust the pace of a lesson, build in movement breaks, or change their approach when a student is struggling? Ask for specific examples of what that looks like in practice.
- Executive function support: Does the school actively teach skills like planning, organizing, and starting tasks, or does it expect students to manage those on their own? Look for a school that treats these as skills to build, not character flaws to correct.
- Accommodations and IEP or 504 support: Ask how the school handles the accommodations your child already has, and whether staff have experience teaching students with ADHD and other learning differences.
- Social and emotional support: Many students with ADHD also experience anxiety, and some have had a difficult time making friends at their previous school. Ask how the school helps students build connections, and what support is available when a student is having a hard day.
- Communication with families: How often will you hear from teachers, and what will those updates cover? Regular communication makes it easier to spot what’s working and adjust what isn’t.
- Cost and ESA eligibility: Confirm whether the school accepts ESA funds, and how its tuition and fees line up with your child’s award.
Whatever school ends up being the right match, the goal is the same: a place where your child feels supported enough to engage with their education, not just get through the day.
As psychologist Dr. Marta Shinn puts it: “If we could figure out how to create educational systems specifically designed for individuals with ADHD and executive functioning challenges, we would be designing an education system that would work for all students.”
If a one-to-one classroom built around how your child learns sounds like the right fit, Fusion Academy may be worth a closer look. To learn more, you can:
- Take Fusion’s Learning DNA Quiz to find out more about how your child learns
- Read stories from students with ADHD and their families
- Contact ourScottsdale, Gilbert, or Pinnacle Peak campus to schedule a visit
