Changing Lives, One Child at a Time
An elementary and middle school providing exceptional outcomes for neurodiverse students in the Conejo Valley, Malibu, West San Fernando Valley, and Greater Los Angeles since 2008
McKinna Learning Academy is an elementary and middle school for neurodivergent students ages 6 to 14 that serves the Conejo Valley, Malibu, West San Fernando Valley, and Greater Los Angeles areas. McKinna Learning Academy was founded in 2008 by Dr. Kellye McKinna, an educational psychologist with more than 25 years of experience teaching children with learning differences.
At McKinna Learning Academy, we believe every child with learning differences can thrive in school. Neurodivergent students need tools and strategies to learn in a way that works best for them. These tools and strategies are foundational to our curriculum and have empowered all of our graduates to successfully transition back to a traditional school setting.
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McKinna Learning Academy helps students with a diagnosis of:
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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
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Dyscalculia​
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Dysgraphia​
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Dyslexia​
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Dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder)
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Nonverbal learning disorder
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Oppositional defiant disorder
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Other cognitive, developmental, or neurological differences
We also support children with:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Executive functioning disorder
A place where neurodiversity thrives
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At McKinna Learning Academy, our 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio ensures each student’s curriculum and learning are tailored to their needs — all in the classroom, instead of as pull-out services.
Our educational therapists and credentialed educators have advanced degrees and decades of combined experience teaching neurodivergent learners. We work closely with students in the classroom daily to develop the skills and strategies to help them achieve their highest potential.
Under the leadership of educational psychologist Dr. Kellye McKinna, our team works closely to set goals and deliver the personalized, coordinated guidance that meets each student where they are, enabling them to succeed — academically, socially, and emotionally.
We are dedicated to empowering neurodivergent learners, celebrating their uniqueness while nurturing their executive functioning skills, confidence, and sense of purpose.
Personalized teaching for unique learners
Cultivating Lifelong Learners Since 2008
100%
of our students have gone on to college
8:1
student-to- teacher ratio
100%
of our teachers hold advanced degrees;
all teachers are credentialed
500+
students and their families served
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Our goal is to ingrain in students the tools they’ll need to thrive in school wherever they go — high school, college, and beyond. Once they cement these skills at McKinna Learning Academy’s elementary and middle schools, students are prepared to move forward to a traditional high school, college, or other academic setting.
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Since our founding in 2008, we have helped more than 500 families whose neurodivergent children were struggling in a traditional school setting successfully transition to traditional high school.
100% of our students have gone on to college and become lifelong learners thanks to the foundational skills they developed at McKinna Learning Academy.
Every child and their family deserve a truly rewarding school experience. Learn how McKinna Learning Academy can support you.
Preparing for high school, college, and beyond​
Is McKinna Learning Academy
right for my child?
Every student is different, but certain types of
students thrive at McKinna Learning Academy.
☑ Bright, average-to-above-average IQ
☑ Creative, insightful, curious
☑ A mix of gifted in some skills and learning differences in others
☑ On the spectrum and verbal
☑ Dyslexia or other reading difficulties
☑ ADHD
"McKinna Learning Academy is a unique place and definitely one of a kind.
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My personal favorite was writing. Dr. Kellye does such a great job of making writing fun and not a task. She really emphasizes the writing process and lets you take your time with every step of writing a paper.
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I’m going to be taking college-level writing next year as a result!"
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— Jeffrey
McKinna Student
"My son used to dread school. He was bullied, felt invisible, and hated going every single day. McKinna Learning Academy changed everything.
For the first time, he felt seen and understood, and that gave him the confidence to start advocating for himself.
Today, he's thriving in school and looks forward to attending. I never thought I'd see this version of my son, and I owe so much of it to McKinna Learning Academy."
— Joy
McKinna Parent