I went to both the Gilbert campus and the Peoria campus. The Gilbert campus was the best of the two kind staff, respectful, understanding, and supportive. Peoria was the complete opposite the IBI (aces version of detention) at Peoria was let's say abusive. The staff in there scream in people's faces, make you stand at a wall and not talk or look at anything or anyone for extended periods of time. When the staff at Peoria aces got mad they would slam doors, slam keyboards on desks, and yell. Gilbert aces was amazing, no slamming doors from staff. The occasional raising of voice to get attention but thats it. I don't recommend Peoria aces at all. All of this information is coming from a previous Austin Centers student. read more

My child went there and I regret it so much, these people act like they are running a scared straight program. My child was given a packet to fill out after that was completed he was told to copy the dictionary the remainder of the day. They can't have phones on them the teacher also slammed my child's phone causing it to break and also get in their face like they are drill sergeants. I find this school beyond unacceptable. Purposely intimidating kids to get a reaction from them and yelling in their face is so unacceptable and uncalled for. DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN go here I promise you they will be traumatized ! read more

The office people are not helping when you ask for help to get your kid registered or ask questions the Peoria location was no help at all.

Although I believe they have the right idea, I feel that they are far too focused on Just the behavior side of things and sadly allow the academics to take a back seat and for me this was just not okay. Also instead of removing the individual/s who are causing the problem in the classroom they remove the students who are being targeted! Again Not okay! That's just reinforcing the bullying behavior! I believe they have the potential to become a great place for education for kids who have alternative learning needs, but they have a lot of growing and learning to do! read more

PICTURES DON'T LIE. WHAT IS DESCRIBED HERE IS EXACTLY HOW THINGS HAPPENED AND I WAS NOT MADE CONTACT WITH OR GIVEN ANY INCIDENT REPORT!!! STILL HAVENT BEEN GIVEN AN INCIDENT REPORT OR NOTES OR OFFERED A CLEAR EXPLANATION. THIS RESPONSE FROM THE BUSINESS ADMIN IS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE RESONDED TO ME IN ANY REGARD EXCEPT TO SAY "SOMEONE TRIPPED OVER YOUR KID" AND "WE WELCOME THE POLICE INVESTIGATION" PARENTS WHO WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH: I am not a fan of ANYTHING to do with this school and since day one this place has given me the worst creepy vibes.My son has come home injured SO SO SO MANY TIMES. JUST FYI you can't enroll your child UNLESS you sign a form that states that they can pretty much do whatever they "need to do" to manage a child's behavior. I was so uncomfortable with signing this "waiver" I hired a lawyer who had to remind the school their little paper doesn't negate them from neglect and abuse. TO DATE (as of Dec 12 2023) My son has come home with VERY SUSPICIOUS scrapes, bruises, bloodied nose, busted lip, HUGE SCRATCHES, drag mark like scrapping, busted eye lid, finger nail torn off etc. Maybe one out of five communications you get will have some semblance of an explanation that might make sense. Currently the Peoria Police Department is investigating them for assault. BECAUSE I WAS TOLD ONE THING AND THE STAFF HAVE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY!! LOOK AT MY SONS FACE after "A student tripped over him" and we were given no report or anything but then they said no, he was at a desk and a kid fell into him and he did this to himself, to the police. His eye is swollen nearly shut and the bridge of his nose is PURPLE and bruised- as a Mama who used to do MMA I've seen these Injuries before ONLY AFTER A FIGHT. These are not small, unlocalized bruises- they are PERFECTLY ROUND FIST SHAPED and They are all on his FACE. A STUDENT TRIPPED OVER MY SONS FACE WAS THEIR FIRST CHOICE EXPLANATION!! This is not the first last or only institution that has feigned the illusion of "good" and got caught doing dirty deeds. I do not trust this staff and If you have any other choice GO WITH THOSE. Aces... I will get to the bottom of what you all have done to my son. read more

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I went to the focus behavioral intervention and I seen the most worse kind of punishment I have seen I'm 27 now and i have ptsd from the things I have experienced and saw LAWSUIT SOON HOPE YOUR READYM read more

Unorganized, unprofessional, cancel meetings the Last minute and can't get paperwork In order my son has been stuck in this school for over a year due to their unprofessional and unorganized ways read more

The ACES - The Austin Centers for Exceptional Students - Specialty Schools Near Me - Peoria, Arizona

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i am a mom of a child that use to go to this school.. i would never tell anyone to put there kids in this school due to they like to hold kids down and when they do they leave marks on the kids my child was one of the kids they would hold down everyday just because he was having a bad mood which all they had to do was work with my child and my child would stop.. they are not bye law allowed to hold a child down i have looked up the laws and now that i know this i will be doing something about it.. i have the pics to show what marks where left on my child when they held my child down.. i have also removed my child from that school and placed my child in a better school that is good with my child.. when my child is in a bad mood they will work with my child and not hold my child down they do not believe in it... my child is doing good my child has not had any behavers since being placed at the new school.. so if someone was to ask me i would put my child in the aces my answer would be no and to run.. they also have lost stuff i have sent in for my child like a weighted vest and i asked them for it back and they cant find it and then when i told them they need to replace it back in oct they still have not done so this is not ok they need to start taken care of things we send in for are kids.. they want are kids to learn to take care of there things well the same goes for what we send in for them... i have also went over the principal head to Austin which is the ceo of the school and he backs the school on what they do and that is not ok i wish there was a way to get a hold of the people that started the school and let them see how they people are running it because i know they would not be ok with it... if i could i would not give this school any stars they r no good for kids and they need to be shut down for good.... they have also pulled my child from my car on more times then i can count because he did not want to get out of the car so they would man Handly him all the time.. if there is any other moms and dads out there they need to call dcs on them to get them closed down... my child goes to a school where one of the people that used to work for the ace said thank go he dont work there and said they do alot more to the kids then we know behind closed door and that he is so much happier with the school he works at now which is where my child goes to... read more

I went to the Gilbert campus for about a year. This school is, by far, the worst school I have ever attended. They have a blue mat on at least one or two walls of every classroom, as well as a "support room" where they have a bunch of blue mats all over the walls. Usually they will send you there for behavioral reasons. They don't have actual suspension, so the minute you walk in that school you are stuck there for the next 7 hours unless you're lucky enough to get picked up by a parent or guardian. They have FBI - something behavioral something. They have a bunch of blue mats on one wall, and they don't care for your sensory needs when you're in there. They take away all fidgets, sensory stuff, etc. when you're in there. The people in FBI are absolutely awful. A friend of mine at the time tried to escape that room when I was sent there once, and she was grabbed by the arms and legs and places in front of a blue mat on said wall. A minute after, a blue mat was placed behind her on the floor and she was slammed on said mat, restrained of any and all movement. It was seriously awful to see. I got sent in front of a blue mat for looking at what we had to witness. When I complained to my teacher at the time about us students not having freedom, he said in his own words, "When you're at the ACES, you're not free". His words, not mine. Whenever I advocated for students being abused, I would get consequences. Whenever I advocated against the "school" taking away our freedoms, saying that we deserve to be free (which is not far from the truth), I got consequences. When getting sent to our classrooms, we were all placed in a line with our hands behind our backs. When my hands were on my sides, they harassed me about it. The staff, however, have way more freedom than the kids, which I guess is obvious. They would rub their freedoms in the faces of the students. They treat middle schoolers like elementary students and it's disgusting. DO NOT LET THIS SCHOOL DECEIVE YOU. THEY WILL NOT TREAT YOUR KID WELL. THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO FOOL YOU AS A PARENT/GUARDIAN. As someone who is professionally diagnosed with Autism for educational environment, I hope this review raises awareness about the undocumented abuse that goes on at The ACES. They make it look good on the outside, but really a lot of awful stuff goes on. I PROUDLY STAND AGAINST THE ACES. read more

This school lives up to its rating as Top School for Special Education! My son was thriving and has come a long way since having only attended the school for a year and a half. Ms. Savannah is by far the most exceptional teacher I have ever worked with! Her desire to do what she does best is evident in the progress of my child's growth! She so caring, compassionate and professional and will go above and beyond her scope of duties and is Always looking out for the best interest of her students. We will be forever grateful for her! She is definitely an asset to The Aces and deserves every bit of recognition! Go Ms. Savannah! Thank you for making an impact in not only our son's life but ours as well. Forever grateful for every single individual on that campus for Your effort does not go unnoticed! God Bless! - The Pierce Family read more

The students thrive in an environment where their needs are put first. The staff care genuinely about the students well being and their academics. read more

I worked at Aces Paradise Valley serving breakfast and lunch to students for eleven month's. The students are wonderful most teachers and staff were great to be around. However when leadership changed everything went downhill. It seemed like nobody was in charge or even really cared about day to day operations. This is about PARADISE VALLEY ACES parent's please review all staff profiles before enrolling your child you might be alarmed at what you find. Miss Tyra and Mr John and Kim are doing a great job. I hope this helps parents make the right choice. Thanks read more

This is one of the best school's I've ever been to, I personally attended this school for behavioral issues like verbal abuse, fighting, etc. The teachers help you through the way no matter what your circumstances are and will try their best to help their kids. Because of this school my life is completely changed forever from a kid who fought and had F and D grades to a kid who helps other people and gets A and B grades. read more

I am a teacher at The ACES School. I was attracted to working here because of the 4:1 student to teacher ratio. Having this small proportion of students to staff makes my job of teaching concepts to mastery obtainable. I am able to reach each student that I teach because I get to have the one on one experience with them that I was missing while teaching in public education. Each student's curriculum is tailored to their academic needs. I am able to find what gaps that they might have in their learning and reteach them the missing skill or concept. My students enjoy learning new things every day. Our campus is filled with happy, positive and caring adults and students. We are a community of learners here at The Aces and we take pride in encouraging each individual to "Do their best" and "Be their best." We enjoy acknowledgement of each individual's accomplishments and we celebrate them. Visitors are always welcome on campus for a scheduled tour. If you stop by my classroom I am the teacher with a Bearded Dragon Lizard for a classroom pet. Please stop in and say hello and see for yourself the great things that we are doing on the Aces campus. read more

As a parent with a special needs child education is always one of those categories that our attention gets .Aces has been the most caring, involved , advocating school for my son William.I don't have to wonder how he is here as the teacher updates me by email or phone daily.He gets to go out in the community and have field trips .There is sensory rooms, animal therapy, ot, speech ..whatever he needs they have it.I wish it had more stars because they deserve it.We love this school!! read more

Grew up in and out of group homes my whole life. have been restrained multiple times. I came there and was restrained really bad. By far the worse I have ever been. It was so traumatizing I blocked it out of my head until recently. I am dealing with it now. Other than that it is an absolutely great school. I told my mom/aunt and she did nothing. Shortly after I blocked it. Listen to your kids if they are being abused. Thank-you. You can email me if you have any questions regarding the school at jacobglaw@gmail.com read more