Best Special Needs Schools in Evanston, Illinois (2026)

Park School traces its roots to 1949, when Evanston parents of children with disabilities began a school in a family home. It became a state-supported pilot program in 1953, joined the Evanston school system in 1954 and has occupied its Main Street building since 1985. Today Park School is District 65's public therapeutic day program for students ages 3 to 22 with moderate to significant intellectual disabilities, autism, deafness or hearing loss, visual impairment, or multiple disabilities. We average two students for every 1.8 classroom staff. Students take adapted art, music and drama each week, practice daily living skills in a home-living space with a kitchen and laundry, and use Katie's Corner, our multi-sensory and motor room. A certified nurse writes individual health care plans, and a feeding team that includes a speech pathologist and occupational therapist supports students with significant nutritional needs. Students learn to ride accessible public transportation, spend time in general education classrooms across District 65, and work with peer mentors and Northwestern University partners. Every student may attend Extended School Year at no cost per their IEP, followed by Evanston Park District special recreation camps.

• Public therapeutic day school (ages 3 to 22)
• Intellectual disability
• Autism
• Deaf and hard of hearing