Youngson Pioneer School 2600 Southeast 71st Avenue, Portland, OR 97206

"Pioneer school serves students who have been unsuccessful with other placements in the district. The unique features of the Pioneer campus offer students a safe place to learn and work on their individualized education goals. Pioneer is a therapeutic site that offers sensory areas, de-escalation spaces, the basic components of a typical school (library, gym, cafeteria) and a high staff:student ratio to best serve their students. It is a place for students to come and gain skills and strategies needed to return to a more inclusive setting. My son, who is nonverbal, has been making progress since his arrival at Pioneer. He is now using an iPad to communicate, and is working on his specific goals in a supportive setting. The staff at Pioneer work collaboratively across the K-12 spectrum to apply best practices and support each other to educate some of PPS’s most vulnerable students."

"This is a school for kids with sometimes-extreme behavioral support needs. The physical space has lot of room for kids to move and deescalation spaces to use as needed. The class sizes are very small with extra staffing in addition to the teacher. The staff is amazing - so supportive of kids and families. My daughter has been very happy at this school. She absolutely loves her teacher and they other staff because they understand what makes her tick and truly want her to be successful. She has done so well here that she will soon be transferring to another school placement."

"Students from all over the district come to Pioneer, and for a variety of reasons -- but our experience, having our oldest child as a Pioneer student on three separate occasions, this last time as an ongoing school assignment, has always been incredible. The staff at Pioneer are incredibly dedicated and flexible, and the whole school, students and staff, take an active part in creating a supportive, welcoming community. Pioneer is a treasure in the Portland Public Schools district, a school where education is differentiated, student differences are celebrated and supported, and staff create incredible bonds with their students. Thank you all for the incredible work you do!"

"This school has been amazing for my son. He's only 7 years old and was not doing well at our neighborhood school. They couldn't handle his tantrums and outbursts. They would just send him out of the classroom (too many kids in the classroom to manage his behaviors well). He is now getting the support he needs at Pioneer. His teacher is wonderful and there are two para-educators as well as a Behavioral Specialist in the classroom with her. There is a dedicated therapist for his classroom. He gets support when he is struggling - gets to take breaks, work off excess energy, or go to the "D" room (for de-escalation) if he's acting out. Yes, the staff at times will physically assist kids to safe spaces if needed, but I've never witnessed any child being hurt or shamed. My son is so much calmer and happy since starting at Pioneer. He is learning and interacting better with other kids. He has confidence in his abilities. I hope he can stay at Pioneer for many years. He still tells me he doesn't like school, but rarely misses the bus (which picks him up right in front of our house). He just seems more like a normal, happy kid now. I am so grateful!!"

"Horrible school. My grand son went there. He is a happy go lucky boy, with lots of energy and loves to run down long hallways. He is not a hitter or fighter at all. He was restricted from running and held down by staff, which scared him and he peed on himself. He doesn't wet himself at all. But at that school, he came home with different clothes on all the time. Restrooms can only be used one student at a time. Even though there are several stalls. And he can't hold it that long so he wet himself for that reason too. Older kids use that restroom also. And the recreation area is geared for bigger kids as they have a pool table and things like that in there. He is only 6 years old. They will put a strait jacket on your child as well. As them if they restrain kids and ask them how and they will tell you and you cant opt out of that either. Don't send your child here. Please. Look for a private special school and try to get a school voucher to fund it."