Inclusion in Action

St. Francis Xavier School Is All In for Inclusion

At Phoenix’s St. Francis Xavier School, inclusive education isn’t just a school program, it’s a mission. The PreK-8 Jesuit Catholic school serves 652 students, 62 of whom have disabilities.

Journey to Inclusion

Sue Milano, the school’s Educational Resource Specialist, has witnessed St. Francis Xavier blossom into an institution that welcomes students of all abilities. In 2018 St. Francis Xavier began enrolling students with significant needs. 

“When I joined the school, my purpose was to foster a culture of inclusivity and pave the way to accept students with more significant disabilities the following year,” Sue remembers. “We knew that one of our existing families had a child with Down Syndrome that was preschool age. We began discussions with the family to see what their hopes and dreams for their child were. St Francis Xavier then set up an Inclusion Ambassador team comprised of administrators, parents, clergy, teachers, and students to study and develop a plan to expand our inclusive efforts.”

Today the school’s vibrant student body includes individuals with a range of abilities, including those with Down Syndrome, autism, Costello syndrome, dyslexia, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and central auditory processing disorder.

And families love it.

Including All Students in the Classroom

St. Francis Xavier operates under a full and partial inclusion model, with all but three of the school’s students with disabilities included in the classroom 100% of the school day. (Students with autism may have Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy support from a clinician. The students with high needs are pulled out for resource support from a certified special education teacher.)

Jesse Newell couldn’t be happier with the inclusive community his family has experienced. In fact, the school’s inclusive education is the main reason he and his late fiance chose St. Francis Xavier for their neurotypical children. 

“I absolutely see the intrinsic value of having children of all learning types and backgrounds. I personally have seen the effect it has had on my children,” he shares.

The Impact of Inclusion on Typical Students

This inclusion, Sue believes, has an invaluable impact on all kids in the classroom. “Students develop compassion, patience, tolerance, acceptance, empathy, leadership, joy, and friendship from having students with differing abilities in their class,” she states.

Lori MacLeod agrees wholeheartedly. When her son, John, began kindergarten at St. Francis Xavier three years ago, she wasn’t sure the traditional learning setting would work for him since he is an active, outside the box, spirited child. But then he met Ave, a new friend with different abilities. 

“Ave is our blessing,” Lori explains. “Having Ave in his class gives John a purpose, a reason to focus, to remain calm, to be a leader. He absolutely loves helping her. He considers her a friend. John said he loves that Ave gives him a hug every morning. Many times I have watched him walk her into or out of school, always holding her hand. I just know he takes such pride in being someone she gravitates toward, and I am so proud to watch him do so.” 

St. Francis Xavier’s journey to inclusion wasn’t easy or seamless, but faculty and families agree this is living out God's love for all children.