Top 4 Best Special Needs Schools in Junction City, Kansas (2026)

H.D. Karns Alternative School has one goal for each student: a high school diploma as the starting point for adult life. We are part of Geary County Schools USD 475 in Junction City, and our programs include the USD 475 Virtual School and two Choice Academies. The Middle School Choice Academy (grades 6 to 8) and the High School Choice Academy (grades 9 to 12) are alternatives to suspension, working on behavior, attendance and the learning gaps that build up over time. High schoolers short on credits can recover them through Edgenuity, while others take mostly live-taught classes before returning to Junction City High School or graduating early from Choice Academy with a JCHS diploma. A behavior interventionist, behavior technologist, special education support staff and social workers back up our teachers. Students can take Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), which covers career development, workplace readiness, financial literacy, leadership and community service. We use PBIS, competency-based learning and individual plans of study, and we celebrate students at an 8th grade recognition ceremony and a high school graduation.

• Public alternative school (grades 6-12)
• Alternative education
• Competency-based learning
• PBIS

Junction City High School serves the Fort Riley Army community, and much of our planning reflects that. A Student 2 Student seminar helps new and military-connected students settle in, Military Family Life Counselors work on campus, and an Army JROTC program is open to students. Our current building opened in August 2021. Ninth graders start in the team-based Freshman Success Academy, spending most of the day with classmates their own age while they explore careers. From 10th grade on, students choose one of three career academies: Business, Public Service and Hospitality; Fine Arts and Human Services; or Science, Engineering and Health. Pathways include welding, auto, construction, health science, culinary, law and public safety, teaching and early childhood. Students can earn certifications such as CNA, EMT and ServSafe, take AP classes, and enroll in college courses on campus or at Cloud County Community College. Every student has an assigned counselor and a school device. Our special education team builds IEPs with families, teachers and specialists. After class, Blue Jays compete in 13 sports and join band, orchestra, choir, drama, debate, Scholars Bowl, language clubs and student-run media.

• Public high school
• Career academies
• Career and technical education
• Military-connected students

Loving Arms Child Care and Preschool is dedicated to fostering a nurturing and educational environment for children aged 6 weeks to 10 years. The school's core mission is to provide quality early childhood education that promotes healthy growth and development through engaging, curriculum-based learning programs tailored to meet the unique needs of each age group. Utilizing nationally recognized curricula, Loving Arms offers specialized programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, ensuring that every child receives the support necessary for their early educational journey. The dedicated team at Loving Arms comprises professionals who are deeply committed to the care and education of young children, consistently exceeding state licensing guidelines. This commitment is reflected in the strong relationships they build with families, creating a supportive community where parents feel informed and involved in their child's development. Unique features of Loving Arms include a low student-teacher ratio that allows for personalized attention and care, as well as various programs such as sibling discounts and financial assistance through state-approved childcare subsidies. The combination of exceptional staff, tailored educational programs, and a focus on family partnerships makes Loving Arms Child Care and Preschool a standout choice for parents seeking quality early childhood education in a safe and loving environment.

• Preschool
• Private school

The Early Childhood Center, home of the Little Jays, runs the Geary County Schools USD 475 preschool program for children ages 3 to 5 at no cost to families. Our classrooms serve both children with identified developmental needs and typically developing preschoolers, using research-based instructional practices, with sites in Junction City and on Fort Riley. State-licensed teachers lead each classroom with a team that includes special education teachers, speech and language therapists, motor therapists, social workers, and English Language Learner staff. Three-year-olds attend three-hour half-day sessions, morning or afternoon, and four-year-olds can choose half-day or extended-day classes that run 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Breakfast is served in the morning and lunch in the afternoon, and bus transportation is available to students whose IEP team finds them eligible. Families apply year round. After the application, parents complete the ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE questionnaires, and our staff may schedule an in-person screening before placing a child on the waiting list. We also hold free developmental screenings year round for any child in the community.

• Public early childhood center (preschool)
• Developmental delays
• Inclusive preschool classrooms
• Public school