A Virginia private school that serves students with autism and other behavioral health needs is relocating from Loudoun County to Reston.
Rivermont Schools announced last Wednesday (July 23) that its Sterling campus at 45305 Catalina Court will move next month to a new facility at 11411 Isaac Newton Square South. The buildout is expected to finish in August, in time for the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
According to Rivermont Schools, the new location will be designed to accommodate the unique needs of its students, with “modern classrooms, life skills rooms, therapy and specialty areas, and an outdoor playground.”
The Sterling school currently focuses on students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade who are on the autism spectrum, though other campuses offer different services.
“What excites me most about our move to Reston is the opportunity it creates for our students to learn and grow in an environment built just for them and those we wish to serve,” Aniqua Sterling, principal at Rivermont Schools in Sterling, said. “Our students face unique challenges, and they deserve unique solutions. This new campus represents our commitment to providing not just education, but hope, a place where every student can discover their potential and build toward a brighter future.”
Based in Lynchburg, Rivermont Schools was originally established in fall 1986 by the Virginia Baptist Hospital’s mental health services division to support students with emotional and behavioral health needs, according to a handbook. The private school expanded its services to include autism support classrooms in 2008.
Acquired by the educational organization New Story Schools in 2019, Rivermont now has 17 campuses across Virginia, including a Northern Virginia school in Newington (8550 Cinder Bed Road) and an Alexandria school in Franconia (6400 Grovedale Drive).
Open to people aged 5 to 22, the schools work with students and their families to create individualized education plans with the goal of providing the skills needed for them to either succeed in a traditional public school or transition into adulthood. In addition to autism support, services include emotional support classrooms, counseling, and occupational and speech therapy.
According to a press release, the new school in Reston plans to provide tours to families and community partners “in the coming months as renovations near completion.”
“This move represents more than a new building. It’s an investment in the future of our students and staff,” Rivermont Schools Regional Vice President Brandon Timmons said. “Every detail of the new campus has been designed to support student growth, empower our team, and strengthen the positive outcomes we strive for every day.”
The campus will be located in the Isaac Newton Square office park, which has been awaiting redevelopment for years. A developer submitted plans for housing on the northern end of the site earlier this month, but the office building where Rivermont Schools is based won’t be affected by that construction.
