Berea, OH: New autism school opening in Jan; plan for 100 students in 5 yrs

Dec 11, 2025, Cleveland.com:  School for kids on the autism spectrum moves into St. Adalbert building in Berea: Community Voices 

https://www.cleveland.com/community/2025/12/school-for-kids-on-the-autism-spectrum-moves-into-st-adalbert-building-in-berea-community-voices.html

BEREA, Ohio -- New Story School, a school for children on the autism spectrum, will open in January in the former St. Adalbert Academy location.

The school will lease the building from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.

The Berea Planning Commission approved a conditional use for the building for community education on Nov. 6. . . .

New Story Schools has 12 locations in Ohio -- the nearest one is in Independence -- and several in Pennsylvania.

Paul Cowan, regional vice president for New Story Schools, said the next several weeks will be spent freshening up classrooms with painting and cleaning.

The first class of 10 students will enter in January. The goal is to max out at 100 students within five years, he said.

New Story Schools enrolls students ages 5-21 and in grades K-12. The school also will offer a five-week summer program.

“Students must have an IEP with autism specification,” Cowan said. There is a process to enroll students that includes meeting with parents and going over the IEP (individualized education program). . . .