Found this thread while trying to search online for reviews on Auburn. We reached out to Auburn couple of months back and today someone reached out and is scheduled to talk to us about the program. Having read all the comments I am not so sure if we should still pursue Auburn. The curriculum listed on the website is impressive but not sure how to know if they have been able to deliver what they have promised on their website.

DS is in 2nd grade, and currently looking for 3rd grade in the Fairfax area (but are willing to look further out if necessary)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if Auburn is not the solution to educating our SN kids in this area - what is? My DS with ASD isn’t doing well in his current mainstream school largely because they have no resource program to support him. But I have no idea where to move him and certainly don’t want to move him to Auburn just to have to move him again - so if not Auburn where?

+1. DC is in public with an IEP . If there was a private solution for ASD/ADHD with some LD that had the resources, knowledge and facilities and that wasn't in a state of upheaval we would definitely consider.

What grade? If 7th grade or higher, try Fusion. My kid with ASD/ADHD loved it for the year he was there. Fusion taught him how to be a good student which enabled him to go to a top mainstream private where he is doing great.


Lots of Auburn refugees at Fusion when we were there. While Fusion does not have supports for SNs per se, the one-to-one instruction makes up for a lot of things. It’s very nurturing and DS really liked and had friends, all grades, there.

Anonymous wrote:So if Auburn is not the solution to educating our SN kids in this area - what is? My DS with ASD isn’t doing well in his current mainstream school largely because they have no resource program to support him. But I have no idea where to move him and certainly don’t want to move him to Auburn just to have to move him again - so if not Auburn where?

+1. DC is in public with an IEP . If there was a private solution for ASD/ADHD with some LD that had the resources, knowledge and facilities and that wasn't in a state of upheaval we would definitely consider.

So if Auburn is not the solution to educating our SN kids in this area - what is? My DS with ASD isn’t doing well in his current mainstream school largely because they have no resource program to support him. But I have no idea where to move him and certainly don’t want to move him to Auburn just to have to move him again - so if not Auburn where?

Bloom - the parent company are absolute shysters!

DO you guys know we're paying almost $1000 in tuition processing and tuition insurance fees than other private schools in the Northern Virginia area? Auburn is charging 500 for 'payment processing' if you pay monthly (almost every other school charges $45) and they charge $700 for insurance (almost every other school charges $190. Harvard charges $400! They tried to say the fees were FACTS fees, so I called FACTS and they said they are fees the school charges and puts through FACTS system to make it look like they are vendor fees.

Thanks - I figured as much. Doesn't seem to be worthwhile to keep complaining to the head of school about resource constraints if his hands are tied. Full Bloom (parent) appears to be a mess in internal structure, so difficult to figure out which of their child companies manage the schools. (Each of their subsidiaries sites includes links to content from the other ones - just a giant circular sh*t show.) Perhaps if enough parents banded together and complained to the public school system that is funding much of the tuition, something would change?

None at all.

Does anyone know what role/authority the advisory board for auburn Fairfax has?

NP here. We are looking for a school for our DS with HFA. Auburn has been recommended to us, and we've been told that although it has had problems, there are still families that are very happy there. It seems primarily related to staffing shortages that they are working to fix? We're looking at the Silver Spring campus (not Fairfax) - not sure if that matters.

Do you have any thoughts on the situation there? Would really like to get a sense before I shell our $40K for a school that could potentially be as awful as his "free" public.

Also, what is the vibe in terms of kids' behavior there? Our DS is really influenced by peers if they are getting into trouble or goofing off, but if not, he will usually be pretty well behaved.

Totally agree that the SN school options are abysmal. So frustrated with our limited options and would totally be interested in an alternative option if someone started another school.

PP, any thoughts you can share on the quality of the school programs?

I see this is an old thread but we have a child at Auburn now if anyone wants to trade stories or ask questions. Also considering starting an SN school next year the options are just depressing and for no reason with all the money floating around this area.

Anonymous wrote:The current head of school's experience on paper is pretty unimpressive, and he posted on facebook this fall asking if anyone had any "algebra 1 and algebra 2 worksheets" because a math teacher had quit. Not a good sign.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, is this Siena’s “ sister school”? This makes me very concerned about considering Siena for my child’s future schooling. Why did they do this with Auburn, is this their goal?

I don't think Sienna is organizationally related to Auburn.