Top 5 Best Special Needs Schools in Broomfield, Colorado (2026)

Aspen Creek K–8 School brings preschool, elementary, and middle-level learning together on one Broomfield campus. Students move from kindergarten through eighth grade, with dedicated elementary and middle-level academics; the school also lists special education and gifted and talented support programs.

• Elementary school
• Public school

Bal Swan Children's Center is a nonprofit early childhood education center in Broomfield, Colorado that has been a cornerstone of the community since 1963. It builds a social-emotional foundation and nurtures an inclusive learning community where each child and family grows and belongs, guided always by the well-being of the children it serves. Inclusion is central to the Bal Swan Way. Classrooms are intentionally balanced with about one third children with special needs and two thirds children with typical needs, because children of varying abilities and ages learn best together. Alongside inclusion, the center is built on interdisciplinary teaming, individualized education, and love, with teachers and therapists collaborating closely and parents welcomed as lifelong teachers and essential members of each child's team. On-site therapy strengthens this model. Occupational therapists support fine and gross motor and daily-living skills, speech-language pathologists help children with communication and conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and childhood apraxia of speech, and warm water therapy improves motor coordination, balance, and strength. Individualized instruction, tracked with the Teaching Strategies Gold assessment, ensures each child is truly known and seen.

• inclusive preschool / early childhood education center
• developmental_delay
• autism_spectrum
• speech_language_delay

Spectra School, at 7205 W. 120th Ave. in Broomfield, is a day treatment school for neurodiverse students ages 5 to 21 with social, emotional, or behavioral needs. We are approved by the Colorado Department of Education Office of Facility Schools, and we work with 19 placing districts toward each student's return to a district school. Many of our students stay at least a semester, and often two to three years, until data and the IEP team support the move. Our programs cover elementary, middle, and high school, plus a young adult transition program. Instruction follows the Colorado Academic Standards and each student's IEP, with Extended Evidence Outcomes where the IEP calls for them. We group core classes by academic need in the morning and electives by functional level in the afternoon. Each of our special education teachers works with up to 12 students, and many students start one-on-one or one-on-two. A school social worker, occupational therapist, BCBA, and speech-language pathologist work in the classroom alongside students under our Interdisciplinary Intervention Model. Our school day runs 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. for 176 days, and our summer program keeps the same routine.

• Colorado Department of Education approved facility school (day treatment)
• autism_spectrum
• emotional_behavioral
• developmental_delay

The Children's Center is a dedicated private, non-profit preschool located in the serene McKay Landing neighborhood, designed to serve children aged 3 to 5 years. With a core mission centered around fostering social, emotional, and intellectual development, the school offers a nurturing environment where children can thrive through play-based learning. By engaging in activities that spark their natural curiosity, students build essential academic and social skills that lay the groundwork for future educational success. The program features half-day sessions tailored to meet the developmental needs of young learners, with various class options available throughout the week. Unique to The Children's Center is its commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio, ensuring personalized attention and strong family partnerships that enhance each child's learning experience. This focus on individualized support, combined with specialized facilities and community events that encourage family involvement, sets The Children's Center apart as a welcoming and enriching place for preschoolers to grow and explore.

• Preschool
• Private school

Untapped Learning is dedicated to empowering students in grades 6 through 12, particularly those facing challenges related to executive function skills such as organization, time management, and focus. Understanding that academic struggles often stem from these underlying skills instead of a lack of effort, Untapped Learning employs a unique REP Model—Relationships, Executive Function Skills, Personalization—to foster the development of eleven core executive function skills essential for academic and personal success. The school offers personalized mentoring through one-on-one sessions at local learning centers or virtually, ensuring that each student receives tailored support that accommodates their individual learning styles and needs. What sets Untapped Learning apart is its commitment to building strong relationships between mentors and students, creating a nurturing environment where students feel connected and supported. This approach not only enhances academic performance but also equips students with lifelong skills that promote resilience and independence. With a focus on developing self-regulation and problem-solving abilities, Untapped Learning stands out as a vital resource for families seeking comprehensive support for their children’s educational journeys.

• Education center
• Executive Function Challenges
• Private school