Welcome to different.

For many of our students and their families, Orchard Friends feels like coming home after a long, difficult journey. All too often, these students have never had a positive experience at—or with—school. We’re here to change that.

We understand that for our students, learning and healing go hand in hand. By building trust and establishing safety, we’re able to reconnect these students to both a love of learning, and of themselves. To all of our prospective students and their families, we’d like to say:

Welcome home.

Our approach

Experience the OFS difference.

Enrolling at
Orchard Friends

There are two ways students enroll at Orchard Friends: traditional enrollment, and out-of-district placement. For both, the first step is to reach out to Beth DiPerna, Head of School to schedule a time to speak with her.

During this initial conversation, Beth can advise about the best path to enrollment for your child, answer any questions you may have, and provide helpful resources to help guide your decision-making process.

In 1989, New Jersey passed the Naples Act. Under this law, public schools are allowed to place special education students who are not thriving in their current environment into a qualifying private school (although districts and administrators vary in their preferences and willingness to place out of district). Orchard Friends meets all of the criteria required by Naples Act: we are fully accredited, inclusive, and welcoming; and our licensed, certified, and experienced faculty and staff offer a non-sectarian education tailored to each student’s unique needs and aligned with all programming requirements required by law.
Public schools have been using the Naples Act to place students with us since 2000! If you secure an out-of-district placement, your child can attend Orchard Friends tuition-free.
As a private enrollment student, you can apply just as you would at any private school. Our thoughtful application process ensures that everyone—students, parents, and OFS administrators—feels confident that Orchard Friends is the best learning environment for each applicant.
We accept applications and admit students on a rolling basis. We also offer financial aid to offset the cost of tuition.

Whether you plan to seek an out-of-district placement or pursue private enrollment:

Set a time to speak with Beth DiPerna, Head of School. If your child has a case manager, we recommend that they join this call as well.
Submit an application along with your child’s most recent IEP and evaluations (learning, neuropsychology, and/or speech and language)
Schedule your two-day campus visit for you and your child to experience Orchard Friends firsthand

Following your visit, our admissions committee will carefully review your application and materials and make an admission decision. After a decision has been made, Beth will reach out to inform both you and your case manager.