Thrive With Autism, a nonprofit focused on helping children with autism, closed on a property May 24 at 32100 Dobbin-Hufsmith Road, Magnolia, founder and President Elizabeth Goldsmith said in an interview June 13.

The new property will serve as the location for the organization’s public charter school, the Thrive Center for Success, beginning with the upcoming 2023-24 school year.

Zooming out

The Thrive Center for Success is a public charter school that focuses on children with autism and combines applied behavioral analysis and academics, according to its website.

The school just finished its first year in operation teaching students in grades K-5 in a space leased from a church, Goldsmith said.

• The school will begin the 2023-24 school year with grades K-6, adding a grade level each year, up to age 21, Goldsmith said.
• The 2023-24 school year will see 132 students learning at the school. Goldsmith said there is a waitlist of over 200 students.
• Open enrollment for the 2024-25 school year will begin in December, Goldsmith said.
• The Thrive Center for Success serves students within the boundaries of Conroe, Klein, Magnolia, Montgomery, Spring, Tomball and Waller ISDs.

What else?

• Around July 1, Thrive With Autism will begin renovations to the campus to add more doors, restrooms, a playground and a [physical education] room, with a goal to finish by Aug. 1.
• There will also be security upgrades to the building, and fencing will be added to along the perimeter of the property and between the pond and the building.
• Goldsmith said the school will likely remain on the ground floor of the building for its first two years in the space and then start growing upstairs.

Quote of note

“We’re excited to be here and ready for this next chapter,” Goldsmith said.

What’s next

The Thrive Center for Success will host a job fair June 22 with positions such as special education teachers, paraprofessionals and a speech language pathologist available for the upcoming school year.