Top 10 Best Special Needs Schools in Jacksonville, Florida (2026)

Center Academy operates the St. Johns Bluff campus in Jacksonville, Florida as an independent private school dedicated to students with learning differences. The school provides specialized day instruction for grades 5 through 12. The program emphasizes individualized education in a small-class setting for students with autism, ADHD, dyslexia and related needs. Rolling admissions are available subject to space. The campus is relocating for the 2026-27 school year to 8264 Lone Star Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32211 while maintaining the same phone and contact information. Families enroll directly or through scholarship programs such as FES and Step Up. The school maintains regular hours with school sessions from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.

• Private special education day school
• Autism
• ADHD
• Dyslexia

Center of Achievement is a Jacksonville community organization at 933 W Beaver St, founded in 1992 by Gertrude H. Peele to serve children, youth, and families across Northeast Florida. The center offers youth development, family support, education, and community resource referrals regardless of background or income. Ongoing initiatives include Fit For Life healthy lifestyle programs, Teach Peace community outreach, and leadership development for young people in the Jacksonville area. Center of Achievement focuses on building self-esteem, life skills, and positive community connections rather than operating as a traditional K-12 school. Submit an inquiry through the Special Needs USA listing to ask about youth programs, family services, and community resources at Center of Achievement in Jacksonville.

• Adult education school
• Private school

CES Academy of Jacksonville is the Hogan Road campus of Children's Educational Services, our nonprofit network founded in 2009 that runs private K-12 academies across Florida. Cognia accredits CES as a full education system, so every CES Academy carries accreditation, and families can pay with any Florida school choice scholarship, including the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and FES-UA. We place each student in the program that fits where they are. The Traditional program ($11,000) serves students on grade level or one to two levels behind, including students with IEPs and gifted students, in small classes with no homework. The Foundations program ($13,000) teaches at each student's functional level, with intensive language therapy for students with speech impairments, autism, intellectual disabilities and developmental delays, and its students graduate with an Access Points diploma or earn a completion certificate. A Transitional path helps students earn a standard diploma over an extended timeline, and an Achieve program runs $16,500. Classrooms use iPads, MacBooks and interactive smartboards. Teachers track progress weekly and send quarterly report cards, and dual enrollment through Southeastern University is open to our high schoolers.

• Private school for students with learning differences (K-12)
• Autism
• Intellectual disability
• Developmental delays

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech is dedicated to empowering children who are deaf or hard of hearing, fostering their ability to listen and communicate effectively. Serving a diverse age range from infants to adults, Clarke specializes in providing tailored educational programs that cater to individual needs, including those with profound hearing loss. The school's core mission is to build listening and spoken language skills essential for success in both academic and everyday environments. With a focus on Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) methodologies, Clarke employs compassionate professionals who guide families through each stage of their child's development, ensuring that every child can thrive alongside their peers. What sets Clarke apart is its commitment to low student-teacher ratios, strong partnerships with families, and the integration of innovative technology that maximizes each child's potential. Additionally, Clarke's extensive network of services includes support in mainstream classrooms, socialization opportunities, and community events that celebrate the achievements of students, making it a unique resource for families navigating the challenges of hearing loss.

• School for the deaf
• Deaf
• Hard of Hearing
• Private school

Destiny Preparatory Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, is a private Christian S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) school founded in 2018 to serve students in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade across Duval County. Driven by a mission to unlock each child's unique potential regardless of income or background, Destiny Preparatory maintains small classes with a 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The academy emphasizes hands-on experiential learning labs, multisensory phonics, computer coding, and performing arts alongside core academic subjects. Certified instructors specialize in closing academic gaps and providing tailored accommodations for students with ADHD, mild autism spectrum traits, and processing differences.

• Educational institution
• S.T.R.E.A.M. Hands-On Curriculum
• ADHD
• Academic Gap Closing & Remediation

The Developmental Learning Center (DLC), formerly DLC Nurse & Learn, is at 4101 College St. in Jacksonville. We provide specialized childcare, early learning, and support for children with special needs and medical complexities from 6 weeks through age 22, with low adult-to-child ratios, nursing support, and onsite therapies. Our services include infant and preschool care, VPK, early intervention, PPEC, extended day programs, after-school care, and summer care. We welcome children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, developmental delays, genetic and seizure disorders, congenital heart defects, and other medical needs, including children who use g-tubes, catheters, or apnea monitors. As an inclusion center, we also serve a limited number of typically developing children.

• Child care agency
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delays

Great Strides School is a division of Great Strides Rehabilitation and operates as a private school providing individualized education using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy in an educational setting. Classrooms maintain small sizes with low student-to-teacher ratios ranging from 3:1 to 5:1, and many students receive one-on-one support from behavior therapists. The school day includes functional academics, group learning, and individualized instruction tailored to age, ability level, and goals. Great Strides Rehabilitation and Great Strides School collaborate to deliver comprehensive care. Therapies including Applied Behavior Analysis, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Music Therapy are available during or after school hours for consistency across settings. Staff include highly trained professionals, with encouragement for BCBA certification. Enrollment involves assessment by a BCBA to develop a Student Specialized Learning Plan based on developmental and academic evaluations, parent interviews, and observations. The school is approved as a Florida Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) private school. It serves children with special needs at its Mandarin location in Jacksonville and maintains limited enrollment to preserve small class sizes.

• Private special education day school
• developmental disabilities
• physical disabilities
• Private school

Greenwood School is a specialized educational institution located in Florida, dedicated to providing a challenging and supportive learning environment for middle and high school students with learning differences. The school's core mission is to empower students through adaptive multisensory instruction, fostering the knowledge and skills necessary for them to reach their highest potential both academically and personally. Key offerings at Greenwood School include a standard academic curriculum tailored with accommodations to meet the diverse needs of students in grades 6-12. The school employs various therapeutic methodologies, such as individualized instruction and differentiated learning strategies, ensuring that each student receives the support they need to thrive. Additionally, Greenwood School emphasizes the importance of social skills development, providing opportunities for students to engage in sports and community activities that promote teamwork and leadership. What sets Greenwood School apart is its extraordinary faculty and staff, who are highly trained in addressing the unique challenges faced by students with learning differences. The school maintains a low student-teacher ratio, allowing for personalized attention and fostering a nurturing environment. Furthermore, Greenwood School is committed to enhancing its resources and opportunities, as evidenced by recent community partnerships that expand vocational training and hands-on experiences for students. The campus is designed to be a safe and secure space where students can learn, grow, and excel, making it a truly special place for those seeking an inclusive educational experience.

• Special education school
• Learning differences
• Private school

Jacksonville Classical Academy's Riverside campus on Forest Street opened in fall 2020 with about 500 kindergarten through 6th grade students chosen by lottery, and it has added a grade each year. For 2026-27 it serves preschool through 12th grade. Retired Ambassador John Rood founded JXC in 2018, and any Florida resident can enroll at this public charter without paying tuition. Our classical curriculum follows the trivium of grammar, logic and rhetoric. Early grades put heavy weight on systematic phonics, students read whole books in depth. Core classes hold about 18 to 20 students through 3rd grade and 20 to 22 from 4th grade on. High schoolers take four years each of history, literature, math and science, three years of a world language, and a semester each of government, economics and moral philosophy, with Honors and AP options. Four-year-olds can attend our free VPK program five days a week, or three days at Riverside, with paid extended day. The Jets compete in middle school, JV and varsity sports including cross country, basketball, soccer and baseball, and students can join band, clubs, Student Council and the National Honor Society.

• Public charter school (PreK-12)
• Classical education
• Phonics-based literacy
• Great books curriculum

Jacksonville School for Autism runs the Jacksonville Autism Clinic at 9000 Southside Blvd., Building 900, providing behavior therapy for young children and adolescents with autism and related developmental delays. Our approach emphasizes the Verbal Behavior Model (Sundberg & Partington) and applied behavior analysis. Services include ABA therapy, behavioral assessment and planning, parent and sibling training, IEP development and teacher training, school and home supports, and speech and occupational therapy. Certified and non-certified therapists provide 1:1 direct therapy, and all non-certified therapists work under Ph.D. and BCBA supervision. We are, or are becoming, in network with all major Florida insurers, and coverage for ABA typically requires an autism diagnosis.

• Autism
• Developmental delays
• Verbal Behavior
• ABA support