Top 7 Best Special Needs Schools in Upland, California (2026)

Easterseals Southern California serves Upland through our San Bernardino County child development programs. We offer Head Start and Early Head Start for children from birth to age 5.

• Preschool
• Learning differences
• Twice-exceptional
• Transportation

Foothill Knolls STEM Academy of Innovation is a K-8 school in Upland Unified built around four signature practices: STEAM, inquiry, project-based learning and design thinking. Those practices connect our students to the STEAM and career technical education pathways at Upland High School. Our campus offers Universal Pre-Kindergarten, band and choir, a garden club, the Imagination Machine program, a talent show, middle school sports and a running club. The Champions program provides extended learning and day care before and after school. Students have access to counselors, paraeducators, a reading team, a health office and a wellness center, and character education and college preparedness are part of our program. Bus transportation is available.

• Public K-8 STEM school
• STEAM
• Project-based learning
• Design thinking

Foxberry runs on two languages a day: Spanish and English in the morning and Chinese and English in the afternoon. Our preschool builds early skills and new languages through stories, songs, and hands-on activities, and children of every language level are welcome. We teach in a classroom at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Upland, with a library, two playgrounds with slides and a soccer field next door. Families choose two, three, or five days a week on part-day (8:00 a.m. to noon) or full-day schedules, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available for a small fee. Our afterschool program gives elementary students Spanish and English on Mondays and Wednesdays and Chinese and English the rest of the week, with a carpool from several local schools. We train teachers with Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona, and we work with San Bernardino County to connect families with child care financial assistance.

• Bilingual preschool and afterschool program
• Spanish immersion
• Chinese immersion
• Financial aid

Hillside High School, located in Upland, California, is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for students with diverse learning needs, particularly those aged 14 to 22 who experience language-based learning disabilities and are twice-exceptional. The school's core mission revolves around empowering these students through tailored educational programs and therapeutic methodologies that address their unique challenges while promoting their strengths. Hillside High School employs a holistic approach, integrating specialized instruction with therapeutic support, ensuring that each student receives personalized attention and resources designed to facilitate their academic and social development. What sets Hillside apart is its commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio, which allows for individualized learning experiences and strong partnerships with families. The school features specialized facilities that cater to various learning styles and needs, creating an environment where students can thrive. Additionally, Hillside High School hosts unique community events that foster connection and collaboration among students, families, and staff, reinforcing the school's dedication to building a nurturing and inclusive community.

• High school
• Learning differences
• Twice-exceptional
• Private school

Stone Ridge Academy is a certified non-public school located at 20 West 7th Street in Upland, California. It provides educational services to students identified with Autism, Emotional Disturbance, Intellectual Disabilities, Multiple Disabilities, Other Health Impairments, and Specific Learning Disabilities. The school is designed to work with students where they are, dedicated to decreasing behaviors and exposing students to academic rigor and relevance while meeting state and local district criteria. Certified by the California Department of Education as a non-public school and fully accredited by WASC, Stone Ridge Academy employs personnel to implement educational and behavioral programs in conjunction with local school districts, students, families, and other social service agencies. It serves K-12 students and transition-age students ages 5-22. The program uses the Boys Town Specialized Classroom Management Model and emphasizes individualized instruction to bridge learning gaps and support social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs. Enrollment occurs through placement by school districts. The school maintains a safe, structured environment focused on academic success, social adjustment, and preparation for adulthood. Contact the school at (909) 581-8568 or info@stoneridgeacademyk12.org for placement information.

• Private special education non-public school
• Autism
• Emotional/behavioral support
• Intellectual disability

Upland High School serves grades 9 to 12, and our Careers division brings together the Career Center, ROP, internships and AVID. Career Technical Education pathways include health occupations, business, welding, HVAC, engineering, construction, education, automotive technology, sports medicine, computer science, digital photography and digital video. Students can also take Advanced Placement classes, including the AP Capstone Program, and get early college access through UCollege. STEM courses add digital electronics, cyber security and architecture, and the arts include art, music, dance, ceramics, theatre and film. We teach Spanish, French and Chinese. Special education, distance learning, summer school, independent study and a homework center support students who need a different path. Counseling, a Wellness Center and Link Crew help incoming freshmen settle in, and Highlanders compete in football, cross country, tennis, water polo and more.

• Public high school
• CTE pathways
• Welding and HVAC
• Film and video production

Upland High School is the one full-scale high school in the Upland Unified School District, serving about 2,770 students in grades 9 to 12 from the city of Upland and nearby unincorporated neighborhoods. We earned a six-year WASC accreditation in 2020, and roughly three in four of our students are the first in their families headed to college. Our academic program includes Advanced Placement courses from Calculus BC and AP Physics to AP Spanish, AP Seminar and AP Research, with weighted grades and reduced exam fees for students who qualify. We also offer AVID, Career Technical Education, film, TV and video production through our UTV studio, visual and performing arts, world languages, and a service learning project. Our special education department and counseling team support students alongside a homework center and library. Outside class, students join clubs, the California Scholarship Federation, National Honor Society, and ASB. Our athletic teams compete in football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, water polo, tennis and cross country, and we field an esports program and summer sports programs.

• Public high school
• Advanced Placement
• Career technical education
• Film and video production