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Best Special Needs Schools in Westminster, Colorado (2026)

Compare 2 special needs schools in Westminster. Explore the ranked list and find a program that feels right for your child.

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School listings in Westminster

Devereux Cleo Wallace special needs school in Westminster, CO
1

Devereux Cleo Wallace

Listed
Westminster, CO2:1 (reported) ratio

Cleo Wallace Academy is the accredited school program of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Colorado, serving youth who live with emotional, behavioral, or cognitive differences. Students attend an on-campus school accredited by the Colorado Department of Education and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the program was recognized as a 2022 Cognia School of Distinction. Students receive six hours of instruction per day, and because the student population is diverse, academic instruction is individualized to meet each learner's needs. Special education and individualized education programming sit at the core of the academic model, with a strong focus on meeting students where they are. Educational diagnosticians and liaisons administer educational testing, review IEPs, and work alongside the clinical treatment team. Together they support each young person's progress and help facilitate a smooth transition back to the student's home school district upon discharge.

  • specialized day and on-campus special education school
  • emotional_behavioral
  • cognitive_differences
  • autism_spectrum
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Nearby school options

Compare special-needs schools near Westminster

Families often compare nearby cities when commute, availability, services, or age fit differ.

Special-needs schools in Thornton Compare 8 programs about 4 miles away. Special-needs schools in Arvada Compare 5 programs about 4 miles away. Special-needs schools in Broomfield Compare 5 programs about 6 miles away.
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Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Westminster

Use these guides before you contact programs, schedule tours, or ask your IEP team how a proposed setting will support your child's goals.

Colorado CES Waiver guide

Who qualifies, what CES covers, waitlist rules, and how to apply through a case management agency.

How to choose a special needs school

Prepare school-tour questions, compare supports and family communication, and record what each program can show you.

IEP process guide

Bring your IEP, progress evidence, and focused questions to conversations about evaluations, services, or placement.

Also Looking for ABA Therapy?

Find ABA therapy centers in Westminster, Colorado. Many families use both specialized schools and therapy services to support their child's development.

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Comparing school options in Westminster

Westminster straddles Adams and Jefferson counties, and three public districts serve it: Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Westminster Public Schools and Jeffco Public Schools. Your street address decides which one evaluates your child and writes the IEP. Parents here search hardest for autism schools and for specialized day schools by name, so this page explains how each district's autism programs work and how a child reaches a separate day school through the IEP. Families who want a different public school can also use Colorado open enrollment to apply across district lines.

Each district runs its own continuum. Adams 12 offers Structured Learning Services for students with autism-related needs, Westminster Public Schools lists an Elementary Autism Program, and Jeffco operates Autism (ASD) programs. Colorado also approves facility schools, and one specialized day school in Westminster focuses on autism, taking students whom districts place through an IEP. Private schools take no public funding and set their own tuition. For children ages 3 and up, every one of the three districts runs free Child Find screening, and children under 3 begin with Early Intervention Colorado instead.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Westminster

Which district serves my Westminster address?
Colorado's Child Find directory lists Westminster under three districts: Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Westminster Public Schools and Jefferson County R-1. The district line follows addresses, not the city limit, so confirm your exact address with the district before you request an evaluation or tour a program.
What autism programs do Westminster-area districts run?
Adams 12 offers Structured Learning Services for students with deficits in core areas associated with autism, plus Affective Needs and Significant Support Needs programs at multiple schools. Westminster Public Schools runs an Elementary Autism Program and an Elementary Affective Needs Program. Jeffco operates Autism (ASD) programs. The IEP team, not a waiting list or a tour, decides placement.
How does a specialized day school placement work in Westminster?
CDE's Facility School Directory lists an approved specialized day school in Westminster with an autism focus for grades K through 12. It requires an IEP and takes placements from school districts. If your child's needs exceed what district classrooms offer, ask the IEP team to consider that setting; when the district makes the placement, families pay no tuition.
My Westminster child struggles with reading or attention. What support exists?
For reading, the READ Act requires every Colorado district to assess students from kindergarten through third grade, and those tests look for signs of dyslexia. A student found to have a significant reading deficiency gets a written READ plan, so request a copy and ask how many minutes of intervention it includes each week. For attention, an IEP under Other Health Impairment or a 504 plan can cover ADHD.
Public, charter or private in Westminster: who pays and who provides the IEP?
Neighborhood and charter schools are public, so the IEP comes at no cost. A private school sets its own tuition and supports. At a nonprofit private school you chose yourself, the district where the school sits offers equitable services, usually less than a full IEP. Open enrollment lets you apply across Adams 12, WPS and Jeffco.
Is there a Colorado scholarship for students with disabilities in 2026-27?
No state voucher or education savings account pays private tuition in 2026-27. Colorado has notified the IRS that it intends to join the federal scholarship tax credit for tax year 2027. Ask any private school you tour whether it plans to accept scholarships funded through that credit.
What should I ask when touring a Westminster school or program?
Ask who writes behavior plans and whether a BCBA consults, how many students and adults share the room, and which licenses the teacher holds. Ask whether speech and occupational therapy happen on site, how the program handles a crisis, and how often you'll get progress data on IEP goals.
How do I start an evaluation in Westminster?
For ages 3 and up, contact Child Find in your district: Adams 12 uses an intake form and email, Westminster Public Schools offers free screenings and evaluations from age three, and Jeffco takes an online referral. For a WPS student already enrolled, start with the school mental health professional. Put the request in writing.

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