COMPASS Academy is a specialized program for students identified in the Exceptional Children’s program. COMPASS serves students enrolled in the Catawba County School System. We are physically located on the campus of the Sweetwater Education Center at 2110 Main Ave., SE Hickory, NC 28602. COMPASS began enrolling students at the beginning of the 2014-2105 school year. Our students are separated from their non-disabled peers all day on a separate campus. We serve students who struggle with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities whether that stems from autism, ADHD, anxiety, mental health concerns, and other disabilities.

What does COMPASS stand for?

COMPASS officially stands for: Children Overcoming Monumental Personal and Academic Stressors for Success. That’s a mouthful, so we like to think of it as a compass pointing us in the right direction geographically; the staff at COMPASS will do our best to teach and support your child to “head in the right direction academically, behaviorally, emotionally, and socially.”

Mission Statement: To teach students replacement behaviors and coping strategies to enable them to learn and make progress.

Vision Statement: To support and teach students to become successful participants in their home, school, and community environments.