Different schools?

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Why are people saying that people with autism go to special schools? I understand for severe cases where they can't communicate but for many cases of autism, I don't understand this. I went to public school and did very well, and even was in some advanced classes.

I understand that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, but a majority of people with high functioning autism are able to function in school without causing a disruption, perhaps even so than some NTs.

I think it is a very personal decision based on the individual. One of my sons has a kid on the spectrum in his class who is thriving at the public school. No one bothers him too much and he is doing very well academically. He does not socialize too much, but that is his own preference.

My other son, though, is having a miserable experience in the public school. He is in the inclusion class (part special ed, part general ed) as a special ed student because he has meltdowns and it is the only class with more than one teacher (the school doesn't think one teacher could handle him). This would be fine, except since he is labeled "special ed", he is being taught academics in the group that moves at a slower pace- and he is advanced in a lot of these areas. He also desperately wants to, and tries to socialize but does not know how to go about it and fails. Kids bully him and avoid him and his self esteem is plummeting, which means his coping skills are as well. So, for him, I am looking into programs for ASD kids in my area. I think he would do better socially, would learn social tools that the public school can't offer him, and the academics would be catered to his own needs. I think he would get some of his confidence back in the right setting. Plus, the public schools are HUGE in my area. The cafeteria alone is meltdown inspiring even for the most "NT" NT. I think he would be much more comfortable in a smaller setting where the staff understood sensory issues.