A School Day that Works
An independent school for grades 3-8 in Irvine, CA.
The Craig School is built for capable students who are ready to learn with peers and thrive in a structured classroom. Academics, executive function, and daily social communication practice are built into every part of the school day. By design.
Now enrolling for 2026–27.
THE TCS INTEGRATED MODEL
The whole day works together.
At most schools, support happens somewhere else. A resource period. A pull-out session. A specialist your child leaves class to see.
At TCS, support is the structure. Every part of the school day reinforces the rest, and nothing operates in isolation. When the environment is coherent by design, students spend less energy navigating the system and more energy learning.
What Sets the Model Apart
Grades 3-8
5:1
Built-In Support
Family partnership
THE TCS MODEL
Four pillars. One school.
The TCS model rests on four connected components. Each is intentional. Together, they form a school day that works for students underserved by traditional environments.
Academic Excellence
High expectations stay. When the environment fits, capable students show what they know.
Executive Function
Planning, organization, and flexible thinking are teachable skills. At TCS, they are built into every school day.
Social Skills
A daily core class where students learn to understand themselves, communicate clearly, and build real relationships.
Family Partnership
Growth does not stop at dismissal. Families stay informed and involved so learning carries into what comes next.
ACADEMICS
Strong Academics, Designed for How Students Learn
Many families worry that a specialized school means lower expectations. At TCS, the opposite is true. A smaller school does not mean smaller standards.
When capable students learn in an environment built for them, academic progress follows. Not because expectations dropped, but because the environment stopped working against them.
TCS uses Amplify Literacy, Amplify Desmos Math, and Amplify Science across grades 3-8. These rigorous, evidence-based programs are delivered inside a structure that helps every student access them fully.
mCLASS assessments help teachers identify individual needs, monitor progress, and adjust instruction throughout the year, so no student goes unseen.
The academic model is grounded in 35 years of ADHD research from UC Irvine. That foundation shapes how TCS teaches, assesses, and supports every student.
THE RIGHT FIT
Who TCS is Designed For.
You do not need a diagnosis to know something is not working.
Many families come to TCS knowing their child is capable but stuck. Some have a clear diagnosis. Some are still figuring it out. What they share is a sense that their child needs a different kind of school.
TCS serves students in grades 3-8 who are ready to learn with peers and thrive in a structured, small-group academic setting. A formal diagnosis is not required for admission.
Students who do well at TCS tend to:
- Be capable, but underserved by a traditional school environment
- Be ready to learn alongside peers
- Benefit from consistency, clear expectations, and predictable routines
- Need support built into the classroom
TCS is an academic school. It is not a clinical, therapeutic, or behavioral placement.
TCS can be a strong fit for students on the autism spectrum who can engage in a shared classroom with built-in structure. If your child depends on individualized in-class support throughout the day, the best next step is an honest conversation about fit.
TRANSITION READINESS
Students Leave Ready.
TCS is not a place where students wait out the hard years. It is a place where they build what they need for what comes next.
Graduates return to traditional school settings ready to manage their own learning, ask for what they need, and take part fully. Families consistently describe the change as significant in academics, confidence, and self-awareness.
That readiness is the point of the model. Ready to learn. Ready to advocate. Ready to participate. Ready to move forward.
"It's like he finally gets to be a kid again. After years of bullying and isolation, he found a place where he belongs."
Frequently asked questions
At most schools, support is a separate service your child leaves class to receive. At TCS, support is the structure itself. The 5:1 ratio, daily routines, and trained staff apply to every student, in every class.
No. TCS is an academic school for capable students in grades 3-8. It is not a clinical, therapeutic, or behavioral placement.
Yes. Graduates leave ready to manage their own learning, advocate for their needs, and participate fully in a traditional setting. Readiness for what comes next is the goal of the model.
Yes. Need-based financial aid is available, up to full tuition, awarded from a limited annual budget. Families who raise cost early tend to have the most options.
No. A formal diagnosis is not required for admission. Many families apply while still working out the full picture of their child's needs.
The fastest way to know is a direct conversation. Tell us about your child, and we will give you an honest read on whether TCS is built for a learner like yours.
ADmissions
Start With a Conversation.
Your child is capable. You know it. The environment has just been working against them.
The fastest way to know if TCS fits is to talk. Tell us about your child, and we will give you an honest read on fit.
Financial aid is available up to full tuition. Don't rule us out before you talk to us.
Now enrolling for 2026–27.