SHERIDAN, WYOMING – April 14, 2026 – For families in Virginia navigating the often overwhelming world of special education, Rivermont Schools offers a dedicated network of campuses built specifically around students with behavioral, emotional, and educational challenges. Serving children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 22, the schools integrate academic instruction with behavioral therapy, counseling, and clinical support services that most standard classrooms are not equipped to provide. With more than 20 locations spread across Virginia — from Alexandria in the north to Tidewater in the southeast — Rivermont positions itself as both a direct placement option for families and a resource partner for local school districts trying to serve their most complex students.
What the Schools Actually Offer
Rivermont's programs fall into three broad areas: educational services, behavioral and therapeutic services, and in-district services. On the educational side, the schools offer dedicated autism support and emotional support programs, alongside occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and a transition program designed to help older students prepare for life after school. The behavioral and therapeutic arm covers trauma-informed care, applied behavior analysis, counseling, and a school-wide positive behavior intervention and support framework. Social-emotional learning runs throughout all programs.
The in-district services arm allows Rivermont to extend its expertise into public school settings — offering consultation, direct placements, and professional development for district staff working with students who have more complex needs. This makes Rivermont both a standalone school and an external support resource for traditional systems that cannot fully serve certain students on their own.
Staff Culture and the People Behind the Programs
Staff accounts shared by the school give a picture of a workplace culture built around support — for students and for colleagues. Mental health associates and special education teachers describe working with students managing OCD, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, while also pointing to the importance of peer support among staff in a demanding field. One special education teacher at the Lynchburg South campus described the value of working with a veteran team that functions as a genuine support network. A licensed therapist and co-coordinator at the Rockbridge campus spoke about the reward of watching student progress and growth over time.
These accounts reflect a model that depends heavily on the quality and consistency of its direct-care staff — a factor any family or district should weigh when evaluating a specialized school placement.
Why It Matters
For families whose children have not thrived in a general education setting, finding the right specialized program can be the difference between a student who continues to fall behind and one who begins making real developmental and academic gains. Rivermont's combination of instruction, behavioral support, and therapy within a single setting addresses a gap that many public school systems struggle to close on their own. Virginia has a substantial number of students who need more intensive support than a standard IEP can practically deliver in a mainstream classroom, and programs like Rivermont exist specifically for that population. The availability of in-district consultation and professional development also means local schools can access Rivermont's approach without necessarily requiring a student to transfer to a separate campus.
What Families Should Know Before Reaching Out
Rivermont Schools operates under the New Story Schools network. Families considering placement can begin through the enrollment process outlined on the official website. The school maintains both a Parent Resource Center and a Student Resource Center, along with a FAQ section that addresses common admission and program questions. The school is also HIPAA-compliant, which matters for families sharing medical or therapeutic documentation during the enrollment process. Campus locations span a broad geographic range, including Northern Virginia, the Greater Petersburg region, the Lynchburg area, Roanoke, Hampton, and the Tidewater region, making proximity a practical part of any placement conversation.
Rivermont's reach across Virginia, combined with its in-district services model, makes it one of the more comprehensive specialized education networks currently operating in the state.