This co-ed, non-sectarian private high school is tucked between a convalescent hospital and the Rheem Valley Shopping Center in Moraga. One of only five schools in the country providing grade 9-12 instruction to children with learning disabilities, the school focuses on teaching students with Asperger's Syndrome, or NLD (Non-verbal Learning Disorder). Orion attempts to keep class sizes small and distractions to a minimum in keeping with the needs of its specialized student body. The school's curriculum has been designed to prepare its students for entry into four-year college and university programs while keeping stress levels low. Orion Academy also uses service dogs in a specialized program to help teach non-verbal communication skills, something that does not come naturally to students with Asperger's. For more information about the Orion Academy, visit the school's Web site.
