Skip to main content

Top 8 Best Special Needs Schools in Miami Beach, Florida (2026)

Compare 8 special needs schools in Miami Beach. Explore the ranked list and find a program that feels right for your child.

Free Matching

Not sure which school is the right fit for your child?

Answer a few quick questions and we'll help you compare schools in Miami Beach, Florida for free.

Free for families.

Takes about 2 minutes

School listings in Miami Beach

Premium
Miami Learning Experience School special needs school in Miami, FL
1

Miami Learning Experience School

No reviews yet
Serving Miami Beach, FLGrades K-125:1 ratio

Miami Learning Experience School is a dedicated educational institution serving children and adults with special needs. Established in 1977, the school is committed to providing a nurturing environment that recognizes and cultivates the unique capabilities of each student. The core mission is to offer personalized care and tailored programs that empower individuals to achieve their educational and personal goals. Key offerings at Miami Learning Experience School include a variety of specialized programs designed to meet the diverse needs of students. These programs encompass: - Interactive Fine Arts Program, fostering creativity and self-expression through visual arts, music, drama, and performing arts - Daily Living Skills training, equipping students with essential life skills in a fully equipped residential-style learning environment - Community Based Instruction (CBI), providing real-world learning experiences at local stores and community locations - Volunteer Job Sites and On-The-Job Training, promoting community engagement and vocational training with job coaches - Special Olympics participation, encouraging physical fitness and teamwork through various sports including track and field, golf, tennis, softball, bowling, and basketball - The Shannon Adult Program, supporting adults with developmental disabilities through functional academics, independent living skills, employment opportunities, and social/leisure activities - Miami Learning Experience Designs, a micro business program where adults learn economics, supply and demand, and business operations while creating and selling resin art products - Continuing Education opportunities for lifelong learning The school maintains an exceptional 5:1 student-instructor ratio for K-12 programs (10:1 for adult programs), ensuring that each student receives individualized attention and support. All teachers are certified by the State of Florida in Exceptional Student Education. The school provides Academic Service Plans (ASP) updated four times per year, similar to traditional IEPs, with one-on-one family collaboration. The campus environment is designed to be inclusive and supportive, featuring specialized technology including interactive Promethean Boards in every classroom, a full bedroom, washer and dryer, full-working kitchen, and bathroom for teaching independent living skills. Miami Learning Experience School offers comprehensive support services including before school care (7:00 AM - 8:00 AM), after school care (2:30 PM - 6:00 PM), enrichment programs, and a summer camp program providing enriching activities, field trips, and socialization opportunities. The school operates year-round, closing only for brief periods between semesters. Financial assistance is available, with over 55% of students receiving financial aid. The school proudly participates in the Step Up for Students (FES-UA) scholarship program. Tuition ranges from $9,300 for part-time adult programs to $29,000 for full-time K-12 programs. This comprehensive approach to education, vocational training, and life skills development makes Miami Learning Experience School a unique and valuable resource for families seeking the best options for their children and adults with special needs.

Claimed ProfileFunding OptionsTransportation AvailableAccredited
Special education schoolAutismCerebral palsyDevelopmental Disabilities
View Details
Premium
Mountaineers School of Autism special needs school in West Palm Beach, FL photo 20
2

Mountaineers School of Autism

No reviews yet
Serving Miami Beach, FLup to age 22$35,000 per year

Mountaineer's School of Autism is a dedicated educational institution focused on providing a nurturing and supportive environment for children with autism and related developmental challenges. The school's core mission is to empower students by fostering their academic, social, and emotional growth through individualized learning approaches and comprehensive therapeutic services. Key offerings at Mountaineer's School of Autism include a range of specialized programs designed to meet the unique needs of each student. These programs encompass Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and social skills groups. Additionally, the school provides academic instruction tailored to various learning styles, incorporating technology such as iPads to enhance learning experiences. Students also benefit from extracurricular activities, including athletics, music, and independent living skills training, ensuring a well-rounded education. What sets Mountaineer's School of Autism apart is its commitment to maintaining low student-teacher ratios, allowing for personalized attention and support. The school fosters a collaborative community where students can thrive alongside their peers, supported by a team of compassionate educators and therapists. With a focus on building friendships and encouraging personal growth, Mountaineer's School of Autism is a place where children can truly reach their potential in a safe and loving environment. Mountaineer's School of Autism is a dedicated special education institution in West Palm Beach, Florida. We provide a nurturing, supportive environment tailored to students on the autism spectrum, with programs spanning athletics, music, Spanish and sign language, technology (including iPads), academics, social skills, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and individualized learning. Our team helps each student grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a community built on friendship, support, patience, and love.

Claimed ProfileFunding OptionsTransportation AvailableAccredited
Special education schoolAutismADHDNeurotypical
View Details
3

Casa Dei Bambini

Listed
No reviews yet

Miami Beach, FL • Grades PreK-5

Casa dei Bambini is a Montessori school in Miami Beach at 4025 Pine Tree Dr, founded in 1997 and serving children across two campuses in the Miami Beach area. The Pine Tree Campus offers primary and elementary programs for ages 3 through 12, while the Normandy Isle Campus serves toddlers ages 18 months through 3 years. Casa dei Bambini is a full member of the American Montessori Society and participates in Florida Department of Education school choice programs. The school follows the Montessori philosophy with individualized pacing, hands-on learning, and multi-age classrooms. Submit an inquiry through the Special Needs USA listing to ask about Montessori enrollment, age ranges, campus placement, and school choice options at Casa dei Bambini.

  • School
  • Montessori
  • Private school
View Details
4

Innovative School of Temple Beth Sholom

Listed
No reviews yet

Miami Beach, FL • Grades PreK-5

The Innovative School of Temple Beth Sholom is a Reggio-inspired Jewish community dedicated to fostering joyful learning for students from infancy through fifth grade. This school embraces the belief that education extends beyond academic subjects, aiming to cultivate productive community members. Through its unique approach, the school integrates academic content with practical, real-world applications, encouraging learners to become co-constructors of their knowledge. The curriculum is designed to bridge skills and concepts with meaningful experiences, nurturing a lifelong love of learning. With a strong emphasis on the whole child, the faculty focuses on creativity, critical thinking, and emotional development in a supportive environment. What sets this school apart is its commitment to low student-teacher ratios and strong family partnerships, ensuring personalized attention and engagement. Additionally, specialized programs such as after-school activities and seasonal camps enhance the educational experience while fostering community connections.

  • School
  • Private school
  • Reggio Emilia
View Details
5

Miami Beach Adult & Continuing Ed. Center

Listed
No reviews yet

Miami Beach, FL • Grades 9-12 & up to 22

The Miami Beach Adult & Community Education Center is dedicated to empowering a diverse community of adult learners through a comprehensive range of educational programs. Located on the campus of Fienberg Fisher K-8 in South Beach, this center serves a multilingual and multiethnic population, providing tailored support for individuals seeking to enhance their skills and improve their lives. The mission centers on fostering lifelong learning, with a commitment to professionalism and community engagement. Key offerings include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Adult Basic Education, GED preparation in both English and Spanish, and citizenship preparation. The center emphasizes workforce readiness through Integrated Education & Training (I.E.T) and provides credit recovery options for current high school students. With highly qualified instructors and a strong focus on personalized guidance, the Miami Beach Adult & Community Education Center creates a safe, clean, and supportive environment that encourages academic success. Unique aspects such as low student-teacher ratios and robust partnerships with community stakeholders further enhance the educational experience, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to unlock their full potential.

  • Language school
  • Public school
View Details
7

Shalom Montessori School

Listed
No reviews yet

Miami Beach, FL • Grades PreK-8

Shalom Montessori School is a Jewish Montessori school in Miami Beach serving children from six weeks through six years of age with toddler, preschool, and kindergarten programs. The school's mission centers on Jewish Montessori education, Torah learning, and Montessori principles in a community where students are described as driven by excitement and enthusiasm for school. Shalom Montessori states that its program is not designed for children with specific learning exceptionalities, medical or emotional needs, or psychological issues, and that teachers are not trained in those areas. The admissions policy notes that children with mild exceptionalities may be considered only when special care is not required and reasonable accommodations do not change the program. Families comparing Miami Beach Montessori and early childhood programs can submit an inquiry through Special Needs USA to ask about enrollment, age requirements, tours, and tuition at Shalom Montessori School.

  • Preschool
  • Montessori
  • Private school
View Details
8

Smocked

Listed
No reviews yet

Miami Beach, FL • Ages 2-5

Smocked is a vibrant and nurturing environment in Miami Beach, dedicated to celebrating the creativity within each child. The school offers specialized art and sensory play classes designed for young children and their caregivers, focusing on fostering confidence and developmental skills in a supportive setting. With a signature 45-minute class format that blends art, sensory exploration, and play dough experiences, Smocked provides a structured yet flexible approach that helps children transition smoothly between activities. Founded by Rachel Silver, an experienced elementary art teacher with a Master's in Art Education from FIU, Smocked addresses the critical need for early exposure to art and sensory experiences. The unique curriculum encourages socialization and creativity while equipping children with valuable skills for their future. What truly sets Smocked apart is its commitment to maintaining low student-to-teacher ratios, ensuring personalized attention and meaningful family partnerships that enhance the learning experience.

  • Art school
  • Private school
View Details

Nearby school options

Compare special-needs schools near Miami Beach

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

Browse all special-needs schools in Florida →

Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Miami Beach

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

Also Looking for ABA Therapy?

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

Find ABA Therapy Centers in Miami Beach →

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Miami Beach

How does being on the island affect school choice?
Miami Beach is part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, so the administrative picture is the same as the mainland, but the practical one is not. The causeways are the only routes off the island and they are the constraint on any daily commute, which matters because most of Miami-Dade's specialized private schools sit on the mainland. Time a prospective commute during morning rush before enrolling, not on a Sunday afternoon. Miami-Dade County Public Schools ESE
Can my child be evaluated in Spanish?
Evaluations must be conducted in the language and form most likely to give accurate information about what a child actually knows and can do, which in Miami-Dade routinely means Spanish. A bilingual child assessed only in English can appear to have a language disorder when the real issue is that the test was in the wrong language. You are entitled to an interpreter at IEP meetings and to documents you can read; request both ahead of the meeting so they are arranged rather than improvised.
What is the evaluation timeline?
Sixty calendar days from your signed consent, with school holidays, both breaks, and summer excluded. Miami-Dade is the largest district in the state, so know the escalation path before you need it: the school ESE contact first, then the regional office, then the district ESE department. Going straight to the top tends to route back down and lose weeks.
Does FES-UA cover private school tuition in Miami Beach?
It contributes toward it at participating schools, through an education savings account that can also fund approved therapies and services. Award amounts are set annually by the Legislature and vary by documented level of need, and tuition at specialized schools in Miami-Dade often exceeds the award, so plan for a gap rather than full coverage. Step Up For Students
Where do Miami Beach families find free autism support?
UM-NSU CARD serves Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties at no charge, providing consultation, training, and help navigating school and community services. It is not a treatment provider and does not require enrollment anywhere. UM-NSU CARD

Explore More Schools in Florida

Discover specialized educational institutions across other cities in Florida.

Browse All Florida Cities