Top 4 Best Special Needs Schools in Moraga, California (2026)

Learn and Play Montessori School (LAPMS) is dedicated to nurturing the potential of young learners, serving children aged 18 months to 6 years across multiple locations in the Bay Area, including Fremont, Dublin, Danville, and Milpitas. The school's core mission is to inspire self-confidence and motivation in each child through a high-quality educational experience that emphasizes a love of learning. With a focus on the Montessori method, LAPMS integrates STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) into its curriculum, ensuring that children not only excel academically but also develop critical thinking skills essential for future success. The school prides itself on its low student-teacher ratio, allowing for personalized attention and tailored learning experiences that accommodate each child's unique abilities and developmental pace. Additionally, strong partnerships with families enhance the educational journey, fostering a supportive community where children learn to care for themselves and others. Unique community events further enrich the experience at LAPMS, making it a standout choice for parents seeking an engaging and nurturing environment for their children's early education.

• Preschool
• Montessori
• Private school

Los Perales opened in 1965, closed in 1983 when enrollment fell, and housed the Moraga Playhouse and two preschools until a 1995 district bond paid to reopen it. We welcomed students back in 1997 with renovated classrooms and a new multi-use room, and today about 350 students in kindergarten through fifth grade attend this Moraga School District campus. Classes are grouped heterogeneously, with combination classes formed when enrollment calls for them. Credentialed teachers lead art and visual and performing arts, and students also spend time in the science lab, instrumental music, PE and the library. A special education resource program, speech and language services and an English Language Learner program support students, and full-time counselors funded by the Moraga Education Foundation focus on social and emotional wellbeing. Our Panther Club offers before and after school care from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Spanish, art, hip hop, yoga and a homework club, plus care on select non-school days and a June summer camp.

• Public elementary school (K-5)
• Visual and performing arts
• Science lab
• Public school

The Child Day Schools, serving the East Bay since 1976, is dedicated to nurturing and educating young children through dynamic, age-appropriate programs. Catering to a diverse range of students, including those with language-based learning disabilities and other unique needs, the school emphasizes a humanistic approach that fosters individual growth and community engagement. Utilizing a research-based HighScope curriculum aligned with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards, The Child Day Schools provide carefully planned environments with low teacher-child ratios, ensuring personalized attention and support. Key programs encompass STEM exploration through hands-on activities, language and literacy development via and creative expression through art, music, and movement. Additionally, children learn vital life skills such as conflict resolution and responsibility while making friends in a nurturing atmosphere. What sets The Child Day Schools apart is its strong emphasis on family partnerships and community involvement across its unique campuses in Lafayette, Moraga, Pleasanton, and San Ramon, each tailored to meet local needs. With caring teachers who are committed to understanding children's interests and individual requirements, The Child Day Schools create an enriching environment where every child can thrive.

• Preschool
• Private school

The Saklan School opened in 1954 as a small Lafayette preschool, moved to its Moraga campus in 1966, and added grades 6 to 8 by the mid-1990s. Today our independent school teaches children from age 3 through eighth grade, and we are accredited by CAIS and WASC. Project Based Learning shapes the day. Classes take on driving questions such as how to cut single-use plastics in our area, then present their work to real audiences. Middle schoolers use the CPM math program, meet in Advisory groups four times a week, and travel together: Westminster Woods in sixth grade, Oahu in seventh, and Puerto Rico in eighth. Specialist teachers lead visual art for every grade, and students perform in concerts and theater, pair up with buddies across grades, and meet in Family Groups built around the Responsive Classroom approach. Tuition for 2026-27 is $24,500 for preschool and pre-K, $35,200 for kindergarten to 5th grade, and $41,500 for grades 6 to 8, with tuition assistance available. We run extended day care, a hot lunch program, and a chaperoned bus from Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Lafayette and Orinda for an added fee.

• Independent school (PreK-8)
• Project Based Learning
• Small class sizes
• Experiential education