Top 9 Best Special Needs Schools in Wheat Ridge, Colorado (2026)

Child Priority Preschool, a distinguished early childhood program in Colorado, has been dedicated to prioritizing the needs of young children since its establishment in 1985 by Director Vanda Klimpke. Serving children typically aged 2 to 5 years, the school focuses on those with diverse learning needs, including language-based learning disabilities and other developmental challenges. The curriculum is designed to engage all senses, offering a rich tapestry of experiences that includes painting, block building, cooking, and exploring nature. This hands-on approach not only fosters creativity but also integrates essential academic concepts such as literacy and numeracy in a playful environment. As children progress through various classes, the curriculum becomes more challenging, nurturing their curiosity and critical thinking skills. Child Priority is renowned for its commitment to developing well-rounded individuals equipped with strong communication skills and problem-solving abilities. Teachers from local kindergarten programs consistently note that students from Child Priority are exceptionally prepared for the next stage of their education, both socially and academically. What sets Child Priority apart is its low student-teacher ratio, which facilitates personalized attention and strengthens family partnerships, ensuring that each child's unique needs are met within a supportive community.

• Preschool
• developmental challenges
• Learning differences
• Private school

Everitt Middle School, affectionately known as the home of the Labradors, is dedicated to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment for students in grades 6 through 8. The school serves a diverse population, including those with language-based learning disabilities and twice-exceptional students, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive academically and socially. Everitt's educational approach emphasizes individualized learning plans tailored to each student's unique strengths and challenges, utilizing evidence-based therapeutic methodologies that promote engagement and skill development. With a low student-teacher ratio, educators are able to provide personalized attention, fostering strong relationships that enhance student growth. Additionally, the school prioritizes family partnerships, recognizing that collaboration between home and school is vital for student success. Unique community events further enrich the educational experience, creating a sense of belonging and connection among students and families alike. Everitt Middle School stands out as a compassionate institution committed to empowering every student on their educational journey.

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

Mountain Phoenix Community School began in 2007 in Coal Creek Canyon and moved to our Wheat Ridge campus in 2011. We are a free Jefferson County public charter school for kindergarten through eighth grade, guided by the Core Principles of Public Waldorf Education, with a tuition-based preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. More than 500 students attend our main school, and about 90 faculty and staff serve them. Academics follow Common Core standards and are taught through the arts, music, experiential learning, and scientific inquiry. Students in the grades take handwork, orchestra or band, games, art, and Spanish as special subjects, and our programs in drama and environmental stewardship run alongside the core curriculum. We also serve families beyond the classroom day. Lively Arts, our homeschool enrichment program, enrolls more than 100 students from preschool through eighth grade, and Seedlings offers parent and child classes for infants and toddlers. An elected Governing Council of parents oversees the school, and we are a member of the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education.

• Public Waldorf-inspired charter school (PreK-8)
• Public school
• Arts-integrated learning
• Handwork

Peak Expeditionary School at Pennington is a PreK to 5 Jeffco Public Schools elementary where each grade studies a Colorado environment: shortgrass prairie in preschool, foothills in kindergarten, montane forest in first grade, alpine in second, riparian in third, and canyonlands in fourth. Students explore those places on outdoor adventures supported by the Colorado Mountain Club, the Snowboard Outreach Society, and other sponsors, and they can hike, bike, climb, and snowboard in the Rockies. As an Expeditionary School, we connect hands-on learning expeditions to the curriculum, and our literacy instruction integrates science and social studies. Our CREW character education runs through project-based work displayed across the building. We offer more than 100 field experiences with no fees, funded in part by an Expanded Learning Time Grant from the Colorado Department of Education. YMCA partners run before and after school programs. Families join expeditions, share expertise in classrooms, and help set our direction at the annual Stakeholder's Summit.

• Public expeditionary elementary school (PreK-5)
• Expeditionary learning
• Outdoor education
• Project-based learning

Prospect Valley Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Wheat Ridge. Its learning goals ask students to think critically, collaborate and speak up for themselves and others. The school pairs academic work with a safe, welcoming community and enrichment that gives children room to explore new interests. Prospect Valley's STAMP program brings science, technology, engineering and math together with art, music and physical education. The school also provides special education services for eligible K–5 students. Individualized Education Programs help its staff identify learning barriers and plan support for each qualifying child. These services sit within a general public elementary school; they do not make the campus a diagnosis-specific program. Families can take part in the Parent Teacher Association and School Accountability Committee. The school office is at 3400 Pierson Street.

• Elementary school
• Public school

Sobesky Academy is a Jeffco Public Schools program in Wheat Ridge that combines academics with a therapeutic setting focused on social-emotional awareness and building on student strengths. We serve elementary, middle and high school students, and our classrooms cover grade-level content under Jeffco's academic guidelines, with adaptations in line with each student's IEP. Social-emotional learning is taught directly, and students can draw on the district's mental health supports, including counseling and a research-based approach to coping skills and resilience. Middle and high school students with autism learn in classrooms designed around how they learn. Older students build an Individualized Career and Academic Plan, and MyPath offers self-paced credit recovery for students who are behind on credits or older than their grade. Families also have access to district bus routes, school meals and health services.

• Public therapeutic special education school
• Autism
• Therapeutic program
• Public school

Stevens Elementary is the only EL Education Credentialed school in Jeffco Public Schools. We serve more than 460 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Wheat Ridge. Students here are Stevens Scholars, and each classroom works as a Crew. Students lead their own learning through character development, high-quality work and mastery of knowledge and skills, and all grades receive direct instruction in social emotional learning using a Jeffco-supported curriculum. The Stevens Eagle Hub is a family resource center offering advocacy services, and the Friends of Stevens partnership supports students, staff and community. Jeffco Translation and Interpretation Services delivers school information in each family's preferred language.

• Public elementary school (PreK-5)
• EL Education
• Social emotional learning
• Public school

Sweet Ridge Studios is a nurturing environment dedicated to fostering creativity and social-emotional development in children, particularly those with unique needs. The studio offers a range of programs designed for various age groups, focusing on empowering students through art. With an emphasis on inclusivity, Sweet Ridge Studios caters to children who may face challenges such as language-based learning disabilities or social difficulties, ensuring that every child feels valued and inspired. The approach at Sweet Ridge Studios revolves around dynamic art experiences that encourage self-expression while building friendships. Through after-school art clubs and summer camps, children engage in mixed media projects that not only ignite their imagination but also promote collaboration and emotional growth. The balance of creative activities and playtime creates an enriching atmosphere where young minds can thrive. What sets Sweet Ridge Studios apart is its commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio, allowing for personalized attention and tailored support for each child's individual journey. This focus on strong family partnerships further enhances the sense of community, making it a welcoming space for parents and guardians seeking holistic development opportunities for their children. The studio's recognition by the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission underscores its dedication to excellence in arts education, making it a standout choice for families looking to inspire creativity and confidence in their children.

• Art school
• Learning differences
• social difficulties
• Private school

Wheat Ridge Learning Academy is a state-licensed child care center at 38th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, caring for children from six weeks to twelve years old. We are open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., families can enroll two to five days per week, and we serve breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Our preschool and Pre-K classrooms follow a core standards-based curriculum in six units, covering language arts and literacy, math, science, social and emotional growth and motor development, with learning centers, circle time, music and movement and outdoor play at least twice a day. Each class has a qualified lead teacher. In summer, visits from the Denver Zoo, the Butterfly Pavilion and the Botanic Gardens extend the curriculum, and we are a member of the Denver Preschool Program. Our before and after school program includes homework time and transportation to and from school, and we stay open on school breaks and teacher conference days. Every classroom has a webcam parents can view by phone, and full-time tuition includes a monthly Parent's Night Out on one Friday evening.

• Licensed child care center and preschool
• Kindergarten readiness
• Private school