Top 6 Best Special Needs Schools in San Francisco, California (2026)

Alice Fong Yu Alternative School is the nation's first Chinese immersion public school, serving kindergarten through 8th grade in San Francisco's Inner Sunset. It opened in 1995 and is named for Alice Fong Yu, San Francisco's first Chinese American teacher. Students learn in a Chinese immersion program. The school has been named a California Distinguished School, a Gold Ribbon School, and a National Blue Ribbon School.

• Middle school
• Learning differences
• Twice-exceptional
• Public school

We teach through Mandarin and English at Chinese American International School in San Francisco. Our early childhood division runs from preschool, ages 2–5, through kindergarten. Preschool uses full Mandarin immersion, while kindergarten and lower-school grades 1–5 follow a 50/50 immersion model. In middle-school grades 6–8, students work through a hands-on, interdisciplinary curriculum and apply ideas to their community and their own lives. Our school also offers athletics, morning and afterschool care, and additional classes. All divisions share our 19th Avenue campus.

• Bilingual school
• Learning differences
• Twice-exceptional
• Preschool

Mandarin immersion and inquiry shape daily learning at Presidio Knolls School. Our San Francisco preschool uses a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, with play and projects at the center of the day. In elementary grades K–4, students work through interdisciplinary Units of Exploration that connect subjects and hands-on experiences. Our middle school serves grades 5–8. Students take on increasingly challenging projects, travel experiences and opportunities to lead and contribute. Creative activities, athletics and family participation are also part of our school community.

• Bilingual school
• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• 1

We offer full-day, year-round early childhood learning in San Francisco for children ages 18 months–5 years. Families can choose our Spanish immersion or English program. Both use playful, thematic STEAM activities covering science, technology, engineering, arts and math through exploration rather than formal academics. Our preschool includes outdoor garden beds where children plant and care for herbs, vegetables and flowers. We also have a transitional kindergarten/kindergarten class for children who need another year before moving on. Our preschool teacher-to-child ratio is 1:6–8; the TK ratio is 1:10.

• Preschool
• Transitional Kindergarten
• Kindergarten

Winston Transitions San Francisco in San Francisco, California, is an accredited, specialized non-profit transition program and day academy serving neurodivergent young adults ages 17 through 21+ with learning differences, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 1), and executive functioning challenges across the Bay Area. Part of the acclaimed Winston Preparatory School network, Winston Transitions utilizes the proprietary Continuous Feedback System and Qualities of a Sustainable and Independent Adult framework. Small cohorts (average 4:1 ratio) focus on core academic advancement, college coursework support, comprehensive career exploration and internships, independent living skills, and social-emotional resilience.

• Special education school
• ADHD
• Dyslexia
• Learning differences

Woodside Learning Center is an SFUSD county school located at the Juvenile Justice Center. It provides education for detained youth ages 12–18, including students with IEPs and English learners. Students continue academic work while in custody, with access to tutoring and learning activities such as the school’s garden and outdoor classroom.

• High school
• Developmental disabilities
• Public school