Top 6 Best Special Needs Schools in Sarasota, Florida (2026)

Ivybrook Academy on North Honore Avenue is a locally owned campus, opened by an owner who left a 20-year career in public accounting to bring this half-day preschool model to families around Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. Our students range in age from 18 months to 6 years. Our day is a half day by design, with focused learning periods followed by play and rest. Classrooms combine Reggio Emilia group projects with Montessori hands-on materials, and teachers use ongoing assessment to adjust lessons to each child's skills. Children are placed by age and development in toddler (18 months to 2 years), 2-year-old, 3-year-old, and 4- and 5-year-old prekindergarten and transitional kindergarten classes. Lessons cover early literacy and phonics, math, science, social studies, creative arts and social-emotional learning, with music, movement, gardening and outdoor nature exploration. Rooms use soft natural colors and child-height materials to keep the space calm, and children wear their own clothes rather than uniforms. Tuition depends on the program and schedule, and families can join mid-year when space opens.

• Half-day private preschool
• Reggio Emilia approach
• Montessori
• Half-day preschool

Sea of Strengths Academy is a private school in Sarasota for students with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences. The school serves Grades 1–12 and offers Bright Start, an early-literacy program for children in Grades 1–3 who show early signs of reading difficulty. Teachers use structured literacy rooted in the Orton-Gillingham approach, multisensory instruction, small-group lessons, project-based experiences, and mastery-based math. Students strengthen reading, writing, language, and math through explicit instruction and planned practice. Bright Start gives younger learners focused early-literacy support, while the wider school program serves students across elementary, middle, and high school grades. Families begin admissions with an inquiry and share available educational records so the team can review a student’s learning profile. The school may invite the student to a Shadow Day, where the family can explore the classroom experience and discuss program fit. Admissions decisions consider the student’s needs, classroom availability, and the school’s ability to provide appropriate support. This process gives families a chance to talk through a learner’s strengths, areas of difficulty, and goals before choosing a placement. Sea of Strengths organizes its academic program around direct literacy instruction, active learning, and carefully planned support across core subjects. In reading, the Orton-Gillingham approach guides structured, multisensory lessons. Small groups give students a focused setting for practicing new skills, while project-based experiences connect learning to hands-on work. The math program uses mastery-based instruction and includes language support. Bright Start adds an early-literacy option for younger students who need focused reading help. Together, these programs give families several ways to explore a school day built around structured literacy and individualized academic practice. The Sarasota school offers specialized learning for students whose reading and language needs call for explicit instruction and a deliberate pace across core academic skills.

• Special education school
• Dyslexia
• Learning differences
• Private school

Seeds of Life Montessori Academy is an AMS-verified Montessori school at 5805 Whitfield Ave in Sarasota. Children attend from 18 months through sixth grade. The campus is bilingual, with English and Spanish immersion, and the programs are Nido (18 to 36 months), Casa (ages 3 to 6), junior elementary, and upper elementary. After-school activities and community theater are available for families in Sarasota, Bradenton, Fruitville, Lakewood Ranch, Bee Ridge, South Bradenton, Bayshore Gardens, and Gulf Gate Estates. The program is inclusive and research-driven. Teachers adapt the curriculum to each child's strengths, learning styles, and abilities. Families can schedule a tour and apply through the enrollment process.

• Montessori school
• Montessori
• Private school

Since 2000, St. Mary Academy has offered a Catholic education to children with learning differences, ages 5 to 15. We serve students of average to above-average intelligence who have dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, other specific learning disabilities, speech and language disorders, ADHD, anxiety, executive function challenges or mild to moderate autism. We are a Diocese of Venice school accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference and the National Council for Private School Accreditation. Classes have 13 students or fewer, taught by Florida-certified teachers. Specially trained teachers deliver Orton-Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell instruction, and each child works toward goals in an individual education plan. Occupational and speech therapy happen on site and are included in tuition. Students also take religion, art, music, Spanish and PE twice a week. Our classrooms sit in Florida's first monolithic dome school, on the 17-acre Bishop Nevins Academy campus we share with St. Martha. Children use the Zazarino Center gym and stage, play fields and a fenced playground, and every student has a Chromebook. We serve hot lunch, and after-care lasts until 5:30 p.m. We take Florida FES-UA and Step Up For Students scholarship payments and offer financial aid.

• Catholic school for diverse learners (ages 5 to 15)
• Dyslexia
• Dyscalculia
• Dysgraphia

The Achievement Center is a fully accredited private school in Sarasota, Florida, serving students in grades 4 through 12 who have faced challenges in traditional educational settings. Since 1979, the school has helped Sarasota County students bridge the achievement gap through customized instruction, small class sizes, and a nurturing environment focused on academic, social, and emotional well-being. The school holds accreditation through the National Private School Accreditation Group and emphasizes individualized curricula aligned with Florida DOE standards, fostering confidence and a sense of belonging for each student. Enrollment is initiated by submitting a registration form by email to the school's director. Families in Sarasota County comparing private schools for students who need a more individualized approach can submit an inquiry through Special Needs Care Network to ask about enrollment, grade levels, and tuition at The Achievement Center.

• High school
• Private school

The Learning Cottage is a nurturing educational environment dedicated to fostering the growth and development of children from six weeks to five years old. Its core mission centers on providing quality early education in a safe and inclusive setting, focusing on the holistic needs of each child. The school serves a diverse range of young learners, including those with unique developmental needs, ensuring that every child walks confidently into their academic journey equipped with essential skills and healthy habits. The proprietary curriculum, known as The Blend, combines teacher-directed and child-initiated activities tailored to meet individual learning styles while exceeding academic and developmental standards. This approach promotes engagement through play and exploration, allowing children to thrive socially and emotionally while building confidence and independence. A standout feature of The Learning Cottage is its commitment to creating a strong sense of community; the school fosters meaningful connections among children, families, and staff in a warm, family-like atmosphere. With a low student-teacher ratio and an emphasis on professional development for educators, the school ensures personalized attention that enriches each child's learning experience. Unique community events further enhance this collaborative environment, making The Learning Cottage not just an educational institution but a supportive haven where young hearts and minds can flourish.

• Preschool
• Private school