College and Career Planning for Students with Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities

Personalized Postsecondary Planning for Every Student

We’ll help you find the best college and career choices for students with dyslexia and other learning differences.

The College and Career Planning Center guides students and families through the transition from Lawrence to successful postsecondary life. We provide comprehensive, individualized, future-planning services for every high school student. Our process begins freshman year and encourages students to explore their unique strengths and long-term aspirations. By graduation day, 100% of our seniors have a clearly articulated, actionable plan for the next chapter of their lives—whether that includes a four-year university, a two-year college, a technical certification, or direct workforce entry.

From application to acceptance, the Lawrence staff went above and beyond in helping our daughter find a school that was the perfect fit. She is not only excelling at her university, but loving every moment!

What We Do

The College and Career Planning Center provides comprehensive guidance in the following areas:

Post-Secondary Planning & College List Curation: Identifying institutions and programs with robust support services suited to each student’s unique learning style.
Career & Vocational Selection: Matching personal strengths and learning profiles to fulfilling career, trade, and technical pathways.
Standardized Testing Guidance: Navigating testing accommodations (ACT/SAT) and strategic test preparation.
Applications & Essay Writing: Crafting compelling, authentic personal narratives that highlight student resilience and capability.
Financial Aid & Scholarships: Navigating FAFSA, merit aid, and specialized scholarship opportunities.

Measurable Success: By the Numbers

The impact of Lawrence’s specialized model is evident in our outcomes. While national postsecondary enrollment and retention rates for neurodivergent students often lag behind general averages, Lawrence graduates consistently defy national trends:

76% Postsecondary Matriculation Rate: Across post-COVID years (excluding 2020–2021), Lawrence maintained a 76% matriculation rate, continuing to outpace national averages as students transition directly into higher education, vocational programs, or structured career training paths.
86% Persistence Rate: Demonstrating steady growth since 2022, Lawrence’s alumni persistence reached an impressive 86% in 2025—reflecting alumni who remain enrolled and actively progressing through their postsecondary programs year after year.

Exploring Diverse Pathways: College, Technical & Trades

At Lawrence, postsecondary success encompasses four-year universities, trade unions, technical certifications, vocational studies, and immediate workforce opportunities with the exact same rigor. Through hands-on exploration and direct networking, we help every student discover the path that fits them best.

1. On-Campus Representative Visits

During lunchtime visits, students connect directly with representatives from trade schools, military branches, regional campuses, and specialized institutes. Visiting partners include:

Trades & Technical: Matrix Auto, Ohio Technical College, Paul Mitchell School, ACT Ohio (Northeast Ohio Trade Unions), Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA)
Military Branches: U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Marine Corps
Regional & Technical Campuses: Tri-C, Stark State College, Kent State Regional Campuses, Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute (including OSU Mansfield)

2. Experiential Site & Campus Visits

On a rotating basis, we take students off-campus to explore academic and hands-on work environments firsthand:

Colleges & Universities: Campus visits and tours to regional four-year institutions, including the University of Akron, University of Mount Union, and Slippery Rock University, giving students direct insight into campus life and student support services.
Trade Unions & Training Centers: Facilities for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, sheet metal workers, welders, pipefitters, and heavy machinery operators, as well as the Carpentry School Open House.
Specialized Technical & Art Institutes: Tours of Paul Mitchell School, PIA (Pittsburgh and Youngstown campuses), Ohio Technical College, and the Cleveland Institute of Art.
Applied Community College Programs: Exploration of health/public safety, CDL training, manufacturing, engineering technology, construction (Tri-C), culinary arts, HVAC, dental, and healthcare certifications (Stark State).
Corporate & Workforce Site Tours: Direct visits to regional employers including Swagelok, Progressive, and Lincoln Electric to observe modern technical work environments.

3. Continuous Opportunity Sharing

We regularly highlight regional career fairs, trade open houses, and off-campus opportunities in our weekly student and parent newsletters.

Lawrence Grads Colleges & Universities Destinations

We believe learning is a journey that extends far beyond Lawrence School. Our role is to provide students with the tools they need to become learners for life. We work closely with our students to help them understand the college process and develop an appropriate list of schools to explore.

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