Top 7 Best Special Needs Schools in New Port Richey, Florida (2026)

Pace Center for Girls - Pasco has served girls across Pasco County from New Port Richey since 1998. We are one center in a nonprofit network that began with 10 girls in Jacksonville in 1985, and our Day Program offers year-round middle and high school academics at no cost to families. Classes follow the local public school district's curriculum, taught by certified teachers with individualized learning plans and a 1:14 teacher-to-student ratio. Girls can catch up on credits and work toward a high school diploma through credit recovery or a GED track. Each girl also has on-site access to counselors throughout the day, and our qualified therapists specialize in anxiety, self-esteem, trauma recovery and academic challenges. Our staff are trained in how trauma affects behavior. Parents or guardians can enroll a girl directly, and schools, community partners or girls themselves can make a referral. An intake interview follows, enrollment is open year-round, and girls can stay up to four years. Beyond academics, we offer life skills development, career and college planning, and community service and leadership opportunities. Pace Reach, our community-based counseling program, is also available.

• Nonprofit alternative day school for girls (grades 6-12)
• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Girls-only program

Our New Port Richey campus offers a tuition-free public charter program for Pasco County students in grades 3 to 12 with learning disabilities. We use individualized education plans and specialized instruction to support each student’s learning needs. Students can take part in arts, athletics, clubs, and our transition program. Families can also use campus resources, including before- and after-care and a virtual campus tour.

• Charter school
• Learning differences
• ESE Center
• Cognia accredited

Plato Academy Trinity is a tuition-free public charter school in New Port Richey serving elementary and middle-school students through Grade 8. The campus combines core academics with Greek language and cultural learning, art, music, technology, athletics, and an Early Learning Program. Students can access Exceptional Student Education (ESE), and families can explore campus tours and the school’s application process through Plato Academy. This Trinity campus belongs to a wider network of charter schools, while its own program serves local K–8 learners. Before- and after-school care gives families additional schedule options. Students can take part in a range of academic and enrichment activities as they move through elementary and middle school. The school’s ESE program offers educational support, though the campus does not identify specific diagnoses or conditions in the available program information. Families considering enrollment can ask the school about grade placement, student support, and the application steps for the Trinity campus. The campus brings together language, arts, technology, athletics, and academic learning in a public charter setting for children in the New Port Richey area.

• School
• Public school

At Red Apple School’s Jefferson campus in New Port Richey, we provide daytime activities for adults 18 and older with developmental disabilities. Our program combines learning activities such as reading, writing, math, science, history, and computer skills with community outings, arts and crafts, communication practice, and daily living skills. We serve people with a range of support needs, including intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida.

• School
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental disabilities

Red Apple Adult Training Center is a dedicated non-profit organization focused on empowering adults with developmental disabilities aged 18 and older. Established in 1996, the center serves a diverse population, including individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and those who may require mobility assistance or exhibit behavioral challenges. The core mission of Red Apple is to enhance the quality of life for its students through tailored educational programs and enriching experiences that foster independence and social skills. At Red Apple, a compassionate and highly trained staff of over 40 professionals implements various therapeutic methodologies designed to address the unique needs of each student. The curriculum encompasses essential life skills such as cooking, personal hygiene, money management, and effective communication techniques, including sign language. Additionally, students engage in educational activities across subjects like math and science while enjoying community outings that promote social interaction and volunteerism. What sets Red Apple apart is its commitment to maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio, ensuring personalized attention for each individual. The center fosters strong partnerships with families to create a supportive environment that encourages growth and development. With ongoing expansions planned for specialized facilities like a sensory room, Red Apple continues to innovate in providing meaningful daytime activities that enrich the lives of adults with disabilities in the New Port Richey area.

• School
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental disabilities

Starfish Scholars of Trinity is an early childhood education center in New Port Richey, Florida, with locations across the Southeast including Valrico, FL and Milton, GA. Programs begin with infants as young as six weeks and extend through age 12, including toddler classes, two-, three-, and four-year preschool programs, free Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), and after-school care for local elementary students. Families in Pasco County comparing childcare and preschool options can submit an inquiry through Special Needs Care Network to ask about enrollment, program availability, and tuition at Starfish Scholars of Trinity.

• Preschool
• Private school

Storybook Schoolhouse has cared for New Port Richey children since 1976, and today families can choose between two locations, our center at 4301 Grand Boulevard and a second site on State Road 54, both easy to reach from Trinity and US 19. We are open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. We serve infants, toddlers and preschoolers with a full curriculum for each age, and our preschool is accredited. Four-year-olds can attend our free Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program in either the summer or fall session. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included in tuition for every age group, and we keep our rates lower than many centers in the area. For older children, our school-age program provides before and after care with bus service to a number of nearby elementary schools, plus a school-age summer camp. We accept Early Learning Coalition (ELC) payments and offer online payment.

• Child care center and preschool (infant to school age)
• Infant and toddler care
• Free VPK
• Private school