Best Special Needs Schools in Santa Paula, California (2026)

Barbara Webster Elementary, home of the Bobcats, is a Santa Paula Unified school serving transitional kindergarten through sixth grade on Saticoy Street in Santa Paula. The district now calls our campus the Barbara Webster Academy of Sports and Health Sciences, and students take PE from a professional coach, compete in track and field, and join a schoolwide yoga and meditation program. We also offer band and stage performing arts shows each year. Our Learning Center is the heart of our intervention system. Six teachers and tutors work with more than 100 students a day in small reading and math groups, and staff review every student's progress three times a year. For students with disabilities, we run special day classes for Pre-K, TK and kindergarten, grades 1 to 3, and grades 4 to 6, along with a resource specialist program, speech services, a school psychologist and a counselor. We are building a community school model, and our Bobcat Boosters PTO funds study trips, from university visits to theme park outings.

• Public elementary school (TK-6)
• Sports and health sciences focus
• Reading and math intervention
• Yoga and meditation

Exceptional Education is dedicated to empowering students with diverse learning needs, particularly those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and various diagnoses such as language-based learning disabilities and twice-exceptional learners. The school's core mission revolves around fostering an inclusive environment where every child can thrive academically and socially. Utilizing targeted systems analysis, the school engages in comprehensive data collection through observations, interviews, and surveys to identify specific areas for growth. This data-driven approach informs tailored staff development programs that introduce research-based practices aimed at enhancing instruction and increasing student engagement. Sustained support is a hallmark of the school's methodology, providing ongoing coaching and technical assistance to ensure effective implementation of strategies that lead to long-term success. What sets Exceptional Education apart is its commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio, allowing for individualized attention that meets the unique needs of each student. Strong family partnerships further enrich the educational experience, creating a collaborative atmosphere that supports both students and their families. With specialized facilities designed to cater to diverse learning styles and community events that foster social interaction, Exceptional Education stands as a beacon of hope for parents seeking a nurturing and effective educational environment for their children.

• Educational consultant
• Learning differences
• Twice-exceptional
• Private school

Glen City Elementary Global STEAM² Academy builds its program around Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Mathematics, and Multiculturalism. We serve kindergarten through sixth grade in Santa Paula, keeping sixth graders on our elementary campus for one more year. Coding is part of the STEAM block for every grade from kindergarten through sixth. Our Spanish Dual Language Immersion program, offered by Santa Paula Unified School District, begins with 90 percent of instruction in Spanish and 10 percent in English, shifting gradually until the day is split evenly between the two languages by the end of fifth grade. DLI teachers use California standards-aligned core curriculum. Our Grizzly G.R.O.W.L. objectives set expectations for students, starting with respect for everyone and everything, and students have access to mental health support.

• Public elementary school (K-6)
• STEAM
• Speech therapy
• Coding