Tucson, AZ: Special school expands; students needing SPED services "continues to rise nationwide"

Oct 16, 2025, Tucson Spotlight: Special needs school in Tucson expands local options 

https://www.tucsonspotlight.org/special-needs-school-in-tucson-expands-local-options

Sierra School, SESI’s sixth Arizona campus, has opened in Tucson to provide small-class, personalized education for students with specialized learning and behavioral needs.

As the number of students needing special education services continues to rise nationwide, a new Tucson school has opened to meet that demand.

Sierra School of Tucson began classes this fall, providing individualized instruction for students with learning and behavioral challenges. The school is operated by Special Education Services Inc. and is the company’s sixth campus in Arizona.

According to SESI’s website, the organization provides education services for K-12 students who require additional academic or behavioral support. Its schools focus on small classes and personalized instruction aimed at preparing students for school and life beyond the classroom.

In the 2021 school year, about 15% of the K-12 population, roughly 7.3 million students, received special education services, nearly double the number reported in 1976, according to Education Week. Arizona currently has 144 special education schools, according to Cause IQ.

Unlike traditional schools, SESI campuses are led by directors rather than principals. Sierra School Director Katherine Melendez had been working with SESI in Tucson for a year and a half before taking on her current role.

Melendez said the school was opened to meet local demand, noting that many Tucson families had been seeking more educational options for students with specialized needs.