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ABA-based school

Princeton Child Development Institute

Princeton, NJ

A nonprofit ABA-based school and treatment center for children, youth, and adults with autism, founded in 1970.

Contact for availabilitypcdi.org ↗
§ 01 · At a glance
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Family-reported rating
Reviews open · be the first to publish one
56
Years operating
Founded 1970
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Student-to-staff ratio
Reported by the school
§ 02 · Program model

How the school works

Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI) is a private, nonprofit ABA organization in Princeton, New Jersey, founded in 1970 — one of the longest-running autism education and research programs in the United States. Its preschool and school programs serve students ages 3 to 21 with intensive one-to-one instruction alternated with small-group activities, alongside early-intervention (under age 3) and adult programs. PCDI is also a recognized professional-training and research institution. This profile is an editorially-maintained ABA Rank listing; the school has not yet claimed or verified it.
  • —Princeton Child Development Institute runs a full academic program with applied behavior analysis embedded across the school day — not therapy bolted onto a standard classroom.
  • —Instruction is designed and overseen by board-certified behavior analysts, working alongside classroom teachers and aides.
  • —Families are part of the team — programs include parent collaboration, IEP coordination, and progress shared on a regular cadence.
§ 03 · Grades served

Who the school serves

Early childhood
PreK / early-years classrooms with naturalistic, play-based instruction and embedded ABA.
Preschool / Pre-K
School-readiness, communication, and social foundations ahead of kindergarten.
Elementary (K–6)
Standards-aligned academics with ABA woven into the full school day.
Middle & high school (7–12)
Academics alongside social, independence, and behavior goals for older students.
Transition (18–22)
Vocational, life-skills, and community-based instruction for transition-age students.
§ 04 · Structure

Day & staffing

Day school
Full-day, school-year programming with academics and ABA integrated by design.
Low student-to-staff ratio
Small classrooms with teacher, aide, and BCBA support so instruction stays individualized.
IEP & district coordination
Works with family and district teams on placement, IEP goals, and reporting.
§ 05 · Funding

Tuition & funding

Funding routesPrivate pay · scholarship · district / IEP placement
Tuition tierTuition & funding on file

ABA-based schools are typically funded through tuition, state scholarships, or district placement on an IEP — not medical insurance. Contact the school for current options.

§ 07 · Campuses

Locations

  • Princeton
    Princeton, NJ
§ 08 · Accreditation

Accreditation & credentials

STATE
State approval / licensure
Private/special-education schools are approved at the state level — provide details to display here.
Not on file
BHCOE
BHCOE accreditation
BHCOE accreditation recognizes ABA service quality.
Not on file
BACB
BCBA faculty verified
Cross-referenced against the BACB Certificant Registry.
No BCBAs on file
CARF
CARF status
CARF accreditation is optional for ABA-based schools.
Not on file
§ 09 · Verification

What ABA Rank checked

  • Ownership claimNo verified owner has claimed this profile yet.
    pending
  • State approvalNo state approval details on file yet.
    pending
  • BCBA faculty checkAwaiting faculty roster.
    pending
  • BHCOE accreditationNo accreditation reported.
    pending
  • Complaint historyNo open BACB ethics filings or active state complaints found.
    clean
§ 10 · Reviews

Family reviews

No reviews yet. If your family has attended Princeton Child Development Institute, be the first to write one.

§ 11 · FAQ

Common questions

What grades or ages does Princeton Child Development Institute serve?

Princeton Child Development Institute serves early childhood / PreK, preschool, elementary (K–6), middle and high school (7–12), and transition-age students (18+).

Is Princeton Child Development Institute an ABA therapy clinic or a school?

Princeton Child Development Institute is an ABA-based school — it provides a full academic program with applied behavior analysis integrated across the school day, rather than therapy sessions alone. Schools are typically funded through tuition, scholarships, or district/IEP placement rather than medical insurance.

Where is Princeton Child Development Institute located?

Princeton Child Development Institute is located in Princeton, NJ.

How is an ABA school paid for?

ABA-based schools are usually funded by private tuition, state scholarship programs, or public-school-district placement when a student's IEP calls for it — not by medical insurance the way center-based ABA therapy often is. Contact Princeton Child Development Institute for the funding options they accept.

§ 12 · Related
Last updated May 31, 2026