Loan Portfolio

Location: Lake Worth, FL
Enrollment: 377
Loan Amount: $16.3 million 
Savings Amount: $3.3 million
**School Site: **www.pbsfa.org
Ratings Direct: Palm Beach School for Autism 
Obligor Summary: Palm Beach School for Autism Obligor Summary

Founded in 2003, Palm Beach School for Autism (“Palm Beach Autism”) serves 377 students in grades PK-12 on a single campus in Lake Worth, FL. The school’s mission is to provide innovative education and behavioral support to empower individuals with autism. Palm Beach Autism’s renowned academic program is based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. To implement the principles, the school’s management team relies on its experience in special education and actively researches best practices to design curriculum for the range of student needs. In 2019, the school launched Project Next – a vocational training program for enrolled 12th graders that choose to defer graduation for a year to participate in the program.

EFF provided a $16.3 million loan to fund the acquisition of the school’s currently leased campus. The 30-year fixed-rate loan will produce over $3.3 million in savings compared to alternative financing options. 

“EFF recognized the value our programs bring to the community and the success we have in offering some of the best educational services to students with autism ages 3 years to 22 years of age. Without EFF's support and belief in our mission, the vision we had to own our property and buildings would never have happened. This opportunity allows us strong financial stability in the short and long term. We look forward to our continued work with  EFF and are excited to be a part of the "family" they support.”

-Ann Eisenberg, Executive Director, Palm Beach School for Autism