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

Compare 7 special needs schools in Port Orange. Explore the ranked list and find a program that feels right for your child.

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School listings in Port Orange

1

Boundless Learning Center

Listed
Port Orange, FLGrades K-8$8,500/year or $900/month plus $400 materials fee

Boundless Learning Center on South Clyde Morris Boulevard in Port Orange pairs the online curriculum a family chooses, such as FLVS, Acellus Academy, Miacademy or Time4Learning, with in-person, project-based days for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Our youngest learners in K to 2 learn fully in person, building literacy, math and social skills through hands-on work. Monday through Thursday mornings are our Learning Lab, where students work on their core online courses with a teacher on hand to help. Afternoons move to the Learning Commons for projects in gardening, sustainability, art, photography, graphic design and coding. Five pillars run through the projects: systems thinking, sustainability, financial literacy, health and wellness, and technology and innovation. Friday is a half day for finishing assignments or pursuing personal interests. Full days last from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Friday wraps up at noon. Tuition is $8,500 a year or $900 a month, plus a materials fee, with lower rates for siblings, and families can apply Step Up For Students funding toward tuition. After-school tutoring is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays for $40 an hour.

  • Hybrid learning center for homeschool and virtual students (K-8)
  • Project-based learning
  • Hybrid homeschool model
  • Sustainability and gardening
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2

Kids Sports & Recreation

Listed
Port Orange, FLGrades PreK-5

Kids Sports & Recreation in Port Orange, Florida, is dedicated to nurturing the potential of children through engaging after-school programs and summer camps specifically designed for young learners. The school serves children from various backgrounds, including those with ADD/ADHD and other unique needs, fostering an environment where every child can thrive. The core mission is to empower students by blending fun with discipline through martial arts training, physical activities, and mindful practices that enhance focus and self-confidence. The after-school program offers a balanced mix of energetic games and structured quiet time, allowing children to expend energy while also focusing on their homework or personal projects. Similarly, the summer camp is packed with exciting activities ranging from martial arts to arts and crafts, ensuring that each day is filled with adventure and learning. The passionate staff members are committed to creating a supportive atmosphere where children can form friendships and develop essential life skills. What sets Kids Sports & Recreation apart is its emphasis on low student-to-teacher ratios, which ensures personalized attention for each child. This approach not only enhances safety but also fosters meaningful connections between instructors and campers. The school's dedication to instilling values such as respect and empathy through martial arts training further cultivates a positive community spirit among participants. As a result, parents can trust that their children are not only having fun but also growing into confident individuals equipped with the skills needed for success both inside and outside the classroom.

  • Martial arts school
  • ADHD
  • Private school
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Front entrance of Small Steps Academy with building sign.
3

Small Steps Academy

Listed
Port Orange, FLAges 2-5

Small Steps Academy is a nurturing Christian preschool dedicated to fostering the growth and development of young children aged one to four. Established in 2004 and affiliated with Our Savior's Lutheran Church, the school's mission centers on teaching young minds while preparing their hearts in a compassionate environment. The academy focuses on holistic development, addressing academic, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional needs. With a commitment to high-quality education and care, Small Steps Academy offers various programs including classes for ones, twos, threes, VPK (Voluntary Prekindergarten), and summer camp. The school prides itself on its team of well-educated and caring teachers who create a supportive atmosphere that encourages learning and personal growth. What sets Small Steps Academy apart is its strong integration of faith-based principles into daily activities, fostering not just educational excellence but also a sense of community and belonging among families.

  • Preschool
  • Private school
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4

Spruce Creek Elementary School

Listed
Port Orange, FLGrades K-5Tuition-free

Fifth graders at Spruce Creek Elementary run the Bobcat News, a morning broadcast they script, film and produce from our media center and post to the school's YouTube channel. We are a Volusia County public elementary school in Port Orange serving kindergarten through fifth grade, and the media center runs on a flexible schedule so classes and small groups can use it whenever a lesson calls for it, with Reading Counts, a spelling bee and Scholastic book fairs. Students rotate through art, music, physical education and STEM with dedicated teachers. Our school takes part in the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program, which gives students with significant intellectual and physical disabilities individualized sport-based training. Volunteer staff mentors meet one to one with students for about 30 minutes each week, and schoolwide PBIS rewards classes for meeting our ROAR expectations. After school, girls can join Girls on the Run, and fourth and fifth graders interested in teaching can join Future Florida Educators of America. The district's Extended Day Enrichment Program runs on campus until 5:45 p.m. for a weekly or monthly fee, and fifth graders can serve on the safety patrol.

  • Public elementary school (K-5)
  • Student-run morning broadcast
  • STEM special area
  • PBIS
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5

Sweetwater Elementary School

Listed
Port Orange, FLGrades K-515:1 ratio

Each morning, a crew of our 5th graders runs WSES, the student-produced news show that opens the day at Sweetwater Elementary in Port Orange. The News Crew trains in our Media Center, where students in kindergarten through 5th grade take lessons in literature, computer skills and research, check out two books a day, and read from more than 5,000 Reading Counts titles. A large computer lab sits alongside the library. Our school counselor teaches monthly guidance lessons in every classroom and offers small group and individual counseling. After school, students can join student government, gymnastics, the Sweet Beats, the Peli-Cans steel drum group, ballroom dance, Girls Running Club, STEM classes, Safety Patrols and the Kindness and Compassion Club. Students in grades 3 to 5 can audition for our annual spring musical. Our fee-based Extended Day Enrichment Program keeps children on campus until 5:30 p.m. with a daily snack, homework time, playground time and seasonal crafts. Families gather for the fall carnival, literacy night, a 5K color run and Field Day, and bus service is available for eligible students through Volusia County Schools.

  • Public elementary school (K-5)
  • Student-run morning news show
  • Reading Counts program
  • Public school
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6

Volusia Online Learning

Listed
Port Orange, FLGrades K-12Tuition-free

Volusia Online Learning (VOL) is the full-time online public school of Volusia County Schools, serving students in kindergarten through grade 12. Our teachers are local Volusia County teachers, so students get live online lessons plus chances to meet teachers and classmates face to face, and graduates earn an accredited Volusia County Schools diploma. VOL follows the district calendar, but courses stay open around the clock, and parents can check progress and grades at any time. Each student works with a Learning Coach at home, a parent or designated adult who stays with younger children through the day and monitors older students' work. We lend VOL laptops, and students take state tests at their zoned school. Families who want less than full time have options. VFlex adds online courses to the schedules of students in grades 6 to 12 at traditional schools, using the FLVS curriculum with Volusia County teachers. VFlex+ lets home education students take up to six courses with academic counseling. Scholar's Choice serves families using PEP and FES-UA scholarships. Our staff includes ESE teachers, and VOL students have clubs and extracurricular activities.

  • Public online school (K-12)
  • Online learning
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Local district teachers
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7

W.I.S.E Private School

Listed
Port Orange, FLGrades K-12

W.I.S.E. Private School has taught students in Port Orange, just south of Daytona Beach, since it was chartered on March 3, 1983. Our non-parochial private school teaches kindergarten through 12th grade, is registered with the State of Florida and is an accredited member of the Florida Council of Private Schools. Our classrooms suit children who have a hard time in large class settings, and we also work with families who home school or need other special schooling arrangements, including independent home study. Coursework covers English, math, science, social studies, reading, spelling, writing, health and safety, art, music, PE, life skills, foreign languages and Bible. High school students can dual enroll at a community college, earning college and high school credit at once, and dual enrollment courses finished with a B+ or better count as honors. Parents and teachers meet every month, and report cards go home at those meetings. Students bring their own lunch, with a refrigerator and microwave available. Our diplomas have been accepted by every college and military branch our graduates have applied to, and some of our graduates with learning disabilities have gone on to college.

  • Private school (K-12)
  • Small classroom setting
  • Home study support
  • Accredited
View details

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Planning guides

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Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Port Orange

In Florida, does ESE include gifted students?
It does, and this surprises many families new to the state. Florida's Exceptional Student Education category covers students who are gifted as well as students with disabilities, which is different from how most states organize things. The practical consequence for Port Orange families is that a twice-exceptional child, gifted alongside dyslexia or ADHD for instance, is handled inside one system rather than two. That can work in your favor, but it also means a gifted identification sometimes overshadows an unaddressed learning disability, so raise both concerns explicitly.
If I move my child to a private school, does the IEP follow?
No, and this is the single most misunderstood point in Florida school choice. When a parent voluntarily enrolls a child in a private school, the entitlement to a full IEP under federal law does not transfer with them. Districts provide a services plan for parentally placed private school students, which is a narrower commitment covering only a proportionate share of federal funding, and no private school is obligated to follow it. Some private schools deliver far more than an IEP would have; the point is that the legal backstop, including due process rights, is not the same. Decide with that clearly in view.
How do I request an evaluation through Volusia County Schools?
Write to the ESE department or your child's school and state that you are requesting an evaluation for a suspected disability. Consent for evaluation is the trigger for the 60 calendar day timeline, so sign and return that form promptly and keep a copy. Volusia serves the whole county, so the process is identical whether you live in Port Orange, Ormond Beach, or DeLand. Volusia County Schools ESE
How much is the FES-UA award worth?
There is no single figure, because the Legislature sets amounts annually in the state budget and they vary by county and by the student's level of need as documented through a matrix of services. Families should treat any number found online as provisional and confirm the current award before signing a tuition contract. Renewal students face an earlier spring deadline than new applicants, so a family switching schools mid-cycle needs to watch both calendars. Current award amounts
What free help is available locally?
UCF CARD serves Volusia County along with six other Central Florida counties and provides consultation to families of people with autism and related disabilities at no charge, across the full age range rather than only school-age children. Registration is direct and does not require a school referral. UCF CARD

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