Thrive With Autism, a nonprofit helping children with autism, expanded its Thrive Center for Success location in Magnolia with a 12,700-square-foot facility featuring 14 new classrooms, Lisa Cohen and Chris Gonzalez, who work with facilities development nonprofit Blueprint, confirmed.

“The custom facility allows the school to serve students with varying needs, from nonverbal students requiring intensive support to those ready for small-group learning,” Cohen and Gonzalez said in an email to Community Impact.

Students will return to the newly updated center Aug. 15.

About the project

Cohen and Gonzalez said the expansion will accommodate the growing demand for free, public autism-focused schooling for students in grades K-8 and eventually through 12th grade as the center continues to add grades each year.


The expanded center includes:
  • 14 classrooms, including an art, music and multipurpose room
  • New parking
  • Additional play spaces
The fenced playfield has an anticipated completion date of Aug. 15, while the parking and vehicle loop are planned to be completed in early November, Cohen and Gonzalez said.

About the program

The Thrive Center for Success opened in August 2022 and began operating out of its new building in Magnolia during the 2023-24 school year, Community Impact previously reported. The school currently serves 185 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, combining applied behavioral analysis with academics, according to its website.

“Thrive students are learning and showing great results. Last year, 82% of students met their iReady Reading progress goals and 89% of students met their iReady Math progress goals,” Cohen and Gonzalez said.