The 50 Best Private Special Needs Schools in the United States
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26. The Kingsbury Center, Washington, D.C.
When students with learning differences and attention struggles come to The Kingsbury Center, they are surrounded by caring, capable faculty and a supportive academic and social environment. Kingsbury’s stated goal is to transform children and young adults who experience difficulty in school settings into competent, confident learners who excel in their educational and personal lives. The school offers speech therapy, occupational/physical therapy, and psychological services to any student who needs them, and believes that when teachers and therapists modify their instructional methods based on a student’s need, the student will thrive and grow. In addition to customized lessons, the school offers myriad activities, such as art, drama, music, and athletics, which enhance a student’s development of outside interests, self-confidence, and leadership skills.
Profile: co-ed day school for grades K-12
Student-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
Tuition: $34,797/year
27. Carroll School, Waltham, MA and Lincoln, MA
Carroll Schools are designed to meet the needs of students with superior intellectual abilities who struggle with language-based learning disabilities. A Carroll student typically scores high on cognitive tests but has difficulty with reading and writing skills. Using the Orton-Gillingham approach—in which teachers diagnose a student’s specific needs and then design a curriculum for reading/spelling development which involves sequence, strategy, review, and fluency—the school encourages students to be active, self-sufficient learners. In addition to academic focus, students at Carroll have access to performing arts, studio arts, woodworking, and technology programs, including visual media instruction which includes experience with green-screen filming and stop-motion video.
Profile: co-ed day school for grades 1-9
Student-Faculty Ratio: 3:1
Tuition: $42,672/year
28. The Kildonan School, Amenia, NY
The Kildonan School specializes in understanding and attending to the needs of young people with dyslexia. Specially trained teachers, innovative methods, and superior awareness and comprehension of the challenges and advantages of dyslexia make this one-of-a-kind school a valuable resource for students and families. The school uses the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching; each student meets daily, one-on-one, with an instructor who determines the student’s needs and evaluates her/his progress. From phonics review to reading novels and writing paragraph papers, the curriculum varies widely according to student, and focuses on building language skills and reading/writing techniques. Kildonan also offers a summer camp on the school’s 350-acre campus in the Berkshires, which combines tutoring and studying with, among other activities, water-skiing, mountain biking, and an equestrian program.
Profile: co-ed day school with boarding options for grades 2-12
Student-Faculty Ratio: 2:1
Tuition: $68,900/year (boarding); $49,900/year (day)
29. Landmark School, Prides Crossing, MA
Students come to Landmark School with dyslexia and other language-based learning difficulties and transition as confident, competent graduates of a school that focuses on improving the academic and social lives of each student. Faculty and staff concentrate on all students individually, intending to foster strengths, address weaknesses, and uncover the talents and potential present in each. Landmark uses multiple modalities in teaching, meaning that instructors acknowledge the various ways in which students learn (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile) and design lessons based accordingly. For Landmark’s high school students, a college preparatory program is offered, and young adults learn the importance of critical thinking, personal organization and time management, and writing across the curriculum.
Profile: co-ed boarding school with day school options for grades 2-12
Student-Faculty Ratio: 3:1
Tuition: $67,600/year (boarding); $51,300/year (day)
30. The Greenwood School, Putney, VT
Located in picturesque Putney, VT, The Greenwood School is open to boys who struggle with language/speech, written expression, attention, or executive functioning. With a particularly low student-faculty ratio of 2:1, the school offers more than individualized attention; in addition to small classes, every day for one hour, each student meets with a trained tutor who helps to determine the student’s changing needs and address specific academic weekly issues. Additionally, many faculty live on campus and are available to provide extra help and guidance before and after school hours. Through a program that incorporates speech, language, and occupational therapy with technology assistance and enrichment opportunities such as sports, art, filmmaking, and woodworking, the school directs its students and prepares them for the next educational step.
Profile: all-boys boarding school with day options for grades 6-12
Student-Faculty Ratio: 2:1
Awards: featured in Ken Burns’ documentary The Address (2014)
Tuition: $69,890/year (boarding); $53,475/year (day)
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