Find Top Programs in Idaho

Discover Idaho schools and centers with individualized instruction, low student-teacher ratios, and integrated social-emotional support. Browse programs across 14 cities with 68 total programs.

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Cities with Schools in Idaho

Explore schools across 14 cities in Idaho. Use search to quickly find schools in your area.

Popular Cities

Cities with the most schools

All Cities A-Z

14 cities total

Cities Starting with B

1 city

Boise

16 schools

Boise, Idaho

Cities Starting with C

2 cities

Caldwell

1 school

Caldwell, Idaho

Chubbuck

2 schools

Chubbuck, Idaho

Cities Starting with E

1 city

Eagle

7 schools

Eagle, Idaho

Cities Starting with G

1 city

Garden City

1 school

Garden City, Idaho

Cities Starting with H

1 city

Hayden

3 schools

Hayden, Idaho

Cities Starting with I

1 city

Idaho Falls

1 school

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Cities Starting with L

1 city

Lewiston

6 schools

Lewiston, Idaho

Cities Starting with M

3 cities

Meridian

11 schools

Meridian, Idaho

Moscow

4 schools

Moscow, Idaho

Mountain Home

5 schools

Mountain Home, Idaho

Cities Starting with P

1 city

Pocatello

9 schools

Pocatello, Idaho

Cities Starting with R

2 cities

Rathdrum

1 school

Rathdrum, Idaho

Rigby

1 school

Rigby, Idaho

Special Education in Idaho: What Parents Need to Know

Idaho families searching for a specialized school are navigating two things at once: a brand-new state funding tool and a market that is heavily concentrated in one part of the state. House Bill 93, the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit, took effect for the 2025 tax year and is the main new lever families have to help pay for a nonpublic placement, but it works differently from a voucher and it is worth understanding the mechanics before you count on it for cash flow. Outside the Boise metro and the Treasure Valley, the number of standalone private special education options drops off quickly, so families in Pocatello, Lewiston, or Mountain Home are often combining a smaller local option with services brought in from elsewhere.

We currently list 68 specialized schools and programs across 14 communities in Idaho.

Evaluation and IEP timelines in Idaho

Idaho runs a single clock rather than two separate ones. Under IDAPA 08.02.03.109.03, the total time from the date the district receives your signed consent for an initial evaluation to the date it determines eligibility for special education must not exceed 60 calendar days, excluding any stretch of five or more consecutive school days when regular school is not in session, such as winter or summer break. That exclusion matters in practice: a consent signed in late May can effectively pause through the summer, so a decision expected by late July can slip into the fall.

60 calendar days from signed parental consent to the eligibility determination, per IDAPA 08.02.03.109.03
Breaks of five or more consecutive school days (holidays, summer) do not count against the 60-day clock
The Idaho Department of Education tracks this timeline statewide as Indicator 11 and requires districts to report it
A child transitioning from Idaho’s Infant Toddler Program must have eligibility, and an IEP if eligible, determined by the child’s third birthday

How Idaho families pay for a specialized placement

The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit (House Bill 93, 2025) is the state’s new funding route, administered by the Idaho State Tax Commission rather than the Department of Education. It is a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 per eligible student, or up to $7,500 for a student with a qualifying disability who requires "ancillary personnel," meaning the parent documents either a diagnosis from an Idaho-licensed health care provider or the student’s IDEA eligibility for an IEP. The mechanism matters: for most families this is a reimbursement claimed on your Idaho Form 40 after you have already paid qualifying expenses and kept your receipts, not money handed to you up front. Only families at or below 300% of the federal poverty level can instead request a one-time advance payment before expenses are incurred, and even then they must document actual spending afterward. The program is capped at $50 million a year statewide, is first-come first-served after income priority is applied, and for the 2026-27 school year the application window (for the 2026 tax year, awarded in 2027) is expected to run January 15 through March 15, 2027. Separately, Empowering Parents, Idaho’s earlier education microgrant, was repealed by the legislature in 2025: funding stopped immediately, no new grants are being issued, and families who already have a balance have until June 2028 to spend it. It is not an ongoing option for a family starting from scratch today.

Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit: refundable tax credit up to $5,000 per student, up to $7,500 for a student with a qualifying disability requiring ancillary personnel
Disability qualification requires either a licensed provider’s diagnosis or documented IDEA/IEP eligibility, plus a need for ancillary personnel under Idaho Code 33-2001(1)
For most applicants it is a reimbursement: you pay qualifying expenses first, then claim the credit on your Idaho Form 40. Only households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level can apply for a one-time advance payment instead
Statewide cap of $50 million a year; applications are processed first-come, first-served after income-based priority
Empowering Parents grants were repealed in 2025 and are no longer accepting new applicants; remaining balances must be spent by June 2028
For children under three, Idaho’s Infant Toddler Program provides early intervention at no cost to families, funded through Medicaid, private insurance, and federal and state funds

Types of Special Needs Schools in Idaho

Not every placement type exists in every state. These are the settings families actually find in Idaho.

Private and specialized day schools (Treasure Valley)

Most of Idaho’s standalone special education and learning-difference schools sit in Boise, Meridian, and Eagle. This is also where families have the most ability to compare programs directly against one another.

Best for: Students with dyslexia, ADHD, or a broader learning difference whose needs are not being met in a general education classroom

Autism and developmental programs

A smaller set of programs built around structured teaching and behavior support, concentrated in the same Treasure Valley cities plus a handful in Pocatello. Idaho’s therapy-center listings are thin statewide (six listed), so many families pair a school placement with a therapy provider brought in separately rather than finding both under one roof.

Best for: Students on the autism spectrum who need communication support and consistent behavior support alongside academics

Smaller local and regional programs

Outside the Boise metro, options thin out fast. Cities like Pocatello, Lewiston, and Mountain Home each have a handful of listings rather than a full range of specialized programs, and rural districts may have none at all within a reasonable drive.

Best for: Families for whom relocation or a long commute is not realistic, and who need to build supports around an existing district placement rather than switching schools

Idaho Special Needs School Questions

How long does an IEP evaluation take in Idaho?

Idaho gives districts 60 calendar days from your signed consent to determine eligibility, under IDAPA 08.02.03.109.03. Stretches of five or more consecutive school days when school is not in session, like summer break, do not count against that clock, so a request made near the end of the school year can take longer in practice than 60 days on the calendar.

Can I use the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit to pay for a special needs school?

Yes, but understand the mechanics first. The credit is worth up to $5,000 per student, or up to $7,500 if your child has a documented disability requiring ancillary personnel. For most families it works as a reimbursement: you pay tuition and other qualifying expenses first, keep your receipts, and claim the credit when you file your Idaho Form 40. Only households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level can request a one-time advance payment before expenses are incurred. If your household is above that income line, plan for the cash flow of paying costs up front.

Is Empowering Parents still an option for special education families?

No, not for new applicants. The Idaho legislature repealed the Empowering Parents microgrant program in 2025, and the Governor signed the repeal that April. Funding for new grants stopped immediately. Families who already had a grant balance have until June 2028 to spend it, but the program is not accepting new families.

Where are most of Idaho’s specialized school listings?

Boise and Meridian together account for the largest share of listings, with Eagle close behind. Pocatello has a meaningful cluster in eastern Idaho, and Lewiston and Mountain Home each have a smaller number. Outside these cities, options drop off quickly, so families in more rural parts of the state are often building support around a district placement rather than choosing between several specialized schools.

My child is under three. Do I start with the school district?

No. Children from birth to age three are served through Idaho’s Infant Toddler Program, not the school district. Services are provided at no cost to families and are funded through Medicaid, private insurance, and federal and state funds. If your child is transitioning to district services, eligibility (and an IEP, if eligible) must be determined by their third birthday, so start the transition conversation well before then.

Idaho Guides & Resources

Next steps for families comparing schools, requesting an evaluation, or working out how to pay for a placement.

How to request a special education evaluation

The written request that starts Idaho’s 60-day evaluation clock, with wording you can adapt.

Complete IEP guide

What goes in an IEP and how IDEA eligibility connects to the higher $7,500 Parental Choice Tax Credit amount.

504 plan vs IEP

Which one fits your child, and why documented IDEA eligibility matters for Idaho’s tax credit.

Choosing a special needs school

What to ask on a tour, useful when comparing the Treasure Valley’s cluster of specialized schools.

Early intervention guide

For children under three, including Idaho’s Infant Toddler Program and the handoff to the district at age three.

ABA and therapy centers in Idaho

A small but growing list of Idaho therapy providers, useful alongside a school placement.

Autism rates by state

How Idaho compares on autism identification rates, using federal data.

Restraint and seclusion by state

Federal civil rights data on restraint and seclusion incidents, including Idaho districts.

Sources for this page

State rules change. This page was last reviewed against primary sources on July 28, 2026. Confirm current requirements with your school district or the relevant state agency before making a decision.

Find Your Perfect Match

With 68 schools and centers across 14 cities in Idaho, we'll help you find the right educational environment for your child's unique needs.