Ivymount School and Programs provides school and community-based services for children & young adults with special needs from throughout the Washington metropolitan area. The school program serves more than 200 students, ages 4-21, with speech and language impairments, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. The classrooms are structured to serve students with a range of academic and cognitive abilities, including, in some cases, those who have the potential to obtain a high school diploma. Ivymount Outreach Programs serve students, teachers, and parents to support children with learning and developmental challenges in the community through therapies, clubs and recreational groups, assessments, evaluations, and professional development. The goal in all of the programs is to help children and young adults achieve their highest level of development and independence to live with dignity and self-respect. Ivymount School has been twice recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. Founded in 1961, Ivymount celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011.