The 50 Best Private Special Needs Schools in the United States
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11. The Woodhall School, Bethlehem, CT
As an institution for young men with above-average intellectual abilities who have struggled in traditional classroom settings, The Woodhall School was founded to ensure that students meet their full potential. The establishment of the school’s four pillars, academics, athletics, residential life, and communications, ensure that every student develops his full self, and the school’s policy of grading both effort and means that students work toward high marks while maintaining a positive, healthy attitude. The school’s drama group, The Woodhall Players, is known throughout the community for its production of full-length dramatic productions, and its athletic programs demand, first and foremost, adherence to a rigorous code of conduct. Students graduate from The Woodhall School prepared not only for the challenges of higher education, but confident in the competent, ethical men they have become.
Profile: all-boys boarding school with day school options for grades 9-12
Student-Faculty Ratio: 3:1
Awards: The Woodhall Players have been nominated for 46 HALO awards and have won 11.
Tuition: $62,000/year boarding; $46,500/year day
12. The John Crosland School, Charlotte, NC
The John Crosland School is a holistic, community-oriented environment for students with attention and learning differences. Crosland’s goal is to provide students with the individualized instruction and innovative learning techniques which will enable them to successfully transition to traditional schools. While every student’s experience is different, many attend Crosland for three to five years, in which they work with specially trained teachers who assess a student’s needs and create a plan catered to the way each student processes information. Rather than memorizing or simply fulfilling a set of core academic standards, each student learns to analyze information and hone problem solving skills, and leaves the program with not only an academic education, but with a personalized technique for negotiating the world.
Profile: co-ed day school for grades K-12
Student-Faculty Ratio: 6:1
Tuition: $ 17,100/year (K); $19,520/year (1-5); $20,500/year (6-12)
13. Eagle Hill School, Hardwick, MA
Eagle Hill School serves students with verbal, non-verbal, and attention-based learning (dis) abilities by establishing an environment of support and creative, demanding instruction. Its particularly low student-faculty ratio (3:1) ensures not only individualized attention to each student’s needs, but encourages relationships between students and teachers which last throughout a student’s tenure at the school. As a college preparatory program, Eagle Hill provides both academic instruction and core enrichment, including mandatory courses on personal finance and college orientation. Most Eagle Hill graduates go on to attend renowned universities, and many remain in contact with the school’s significant alumni/ae presence.
Profile: co-ed boarding school for grades 8-12 with day school options
Student-Faculty Ratio: 3:1
Awards: Outstanding Design Award by American School & University magazine (2013)
Tuition: $67,850/year (boarding); $48,099/year (day)
14. Commonwealth Academy, Alexandria, VA
Commonwealth Academy strives to provide a welcoming, challenging academic environment for students who learn best in small, individualized settings, and for those with attention struggles or learning disabilities. The school provides a core academic curriculum which responds to the needs and personality of each student, with a particular emphasis on writing, which is taught as a separate subject. Students learn the fundamentals of semantics, critical thinking, grammar, style, and organization, and instructors from each subject stress the importance and usage of writing skills across the curriculum. Commonwealth boasts superior technological provisions, from cutting edge computer labs and tablet availability, to SMART Boards in every classroom. Specially trained instructors take every effort to incorporate technology within their lessons, whether in the form of e-books or online homework, and teachers post weekly assessments of each student’s progress on Edline, a secure web system which allows parents and students to access their personal files and communicate with faculty and advisors.
Profile: co-ed day school for grades 1-12 (ages 6-21)
Student-Faculty Ratio: 4:1
Awards (selected): Finalist in Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Award for Technology; America’s Promise Alliance designated Promise Place; CHADD Regional Educator of the Year Award (Head of School)
Tuition: $33,900/year
15. Glenforest School, West Columbia, SC
Since it opened in 1983, Glenforest School has been committed to serving the needs of students who more effectively learn in smaller classrooms with trained teachers who understand and work to accommodate all learning styles. In addition to focus on an academic core, instructors at Glenforest work to ensure that students learn in a positive, supportive environment in which they are taught social skills, life planning, and college preparedness. The school provides an impressive technology program, including SMART Boards, audio books, tablets (the Kindle to student ratio is 1:1), and applications such as Dragon Speak, which allows students to take notes and input data on tablets or computers using voice commands. Additionally, Glenforest offers myriad athletic opportunities; from basketball to archery to soccer, students can discover interests and gain skills, and the school’s “no tryout” policy ensures that all students are included on teams and in games. The school’s state-of-the-art wellness center, opened in 2005, includes gym facilities, a weight room, and locker rooms so that each student may enhance his/her after-school curriculum.
Profile: co-ed day school for grades K-12
Student-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
Tuition: $13,500-$16,500/year (grades 1-5); $18,000-$21,504/year (grades 6-12)
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