Top 4 Best Special Needs Schools in East St Louis, Illinois (2026)

Gordon Bush Alternative Center is East St. Louis School District 189's alternative school on Gross Avenue. We keep class sizes small, provide a computer for every student, and back students with a large support staff. Our motto is "Bush is Better than Best!" Students take part in Peace Warriors, a district training program built on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolence principles. Weekly sessions cover de-escalation skills and social and emotional character development, and give students a place to talk through personal and community trauma. Peace Warriors also join the district's Unified Special Olympics sports and leadership teams. School counselors work with students, and seniors have their own planning resources for college and career. Community partners extend what we offer: Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House provides youth employment opportunities and parent engagement support, the St. Louis Area Foodbank delivers food twice a month during the school year for local families, and we also partner with COCA and Go Cadets!

• Public alternative school
• Alternative education
• Small class sizes
• Nonviolence and de-escalation training

Join Hands East Saint Louis is dedicated to fostering personal relationships and empowering children and families in the greater East St. Louis area, particularly those facing the challenges of poverty and racial injustice. Serving a diverse range of youth, the organization focuses on building self-esteem and positive self-image through various youth programming initiatives. These programs aim to guide young people towards educational success and personal growth, with volunteers acting as mentors who embody the inherent worth of each child. The Dream Path initiative is a cornerstone of Join Hands, providing crucial support through family and teen mentoring, alternative education, and education advocacy. This program emphasizes solidarity with families as they navigate obstacles that hinder academic achievement. Central to these efforts is the Ubuntu Center for Peace, a nurturing space that offers resources such as yoga, meditation, and community gatherings, all designed to promote peace and support for local families. What sets Join Hands apart is its commitment to low student-to-mentor ratios and its holistic approach to fostering community resilience and empowerment through meaningful connections.

• Association / Organization
• Private school

Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School holds Commendable School recognition from the state of Illinois and is part of East St. Louis School District 189. Our motto is "We Will Teach the Way Your Child Learns," and we work to build critical thinking, confidence and perseverance in our scholars. Beyond the classroom, our after-school program gives students homework help, enrichment and recreation in a structured setting. Beta Club members take on school and community service projects and leadership roles, and our Robotics Program has students designing, building and programming robots as a hands-on introduction to STEM. We track growth with NWEA assessments and keep families involved through parent-teacher conferences, our PTO and Parent University. District 189 provides bus service and mental health support for our school community.

• Public elementary school
• STEM robotics
• Public school

Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence is a kindergarten through middle school campus in East St. Louis School District 189, and our motto is "We Operate in the Spirit of Excellence." We offer elementary classrooms for kindergarten through 4th grade and a middle school program, with AVID, Encore classes and academic interventionists. Our special education staff teach self-contained classes for kindergarten through 2nd grade and for 3rd and 4th grade. PBIS and restorative practices shape school culture, and our Behavior Attendance Grades program gives students at risk direct lessons on nine character traits plus community service learning projects. Students can join Jr. Beta Club, National Jr. Honor Society, Student Council, Peace Warriors, Girls Who Code and the superintendent's student advisory council, along with elementary and middle school athletics. Fresh fruits and vegetables are part of the school day.

• Public elementary and middle school (K-8)
• Restorative practices
• AVID
• Public school