Find Top Programs in Louisiana

Discover Louisiana schools and centers with individualized instruction, low student-teacher ratios, and integrated social-emotional support. Browse programs across 15 cities with 31 total programs.

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Cities with Schools in Louisiana

Explore schools across 15 cities in Louisiana. Use search to quickly find schools in your area.

Popular Cities

Cities with the most schools

All Cities A-Z

15 cities total

Cities Starting with B

1 city

Baton Rouge

2 schools

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Cities Starting with G

1 city

Gretna

1 school

Gretna, Louisiana

Cities Starting with H

1 city

Houma

1 school

Houma, Louisiana

Cities Starting with L

1 city

Lake Charles

3 schools

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Cities Starting with M

2 cities

Marrero

2 schools

Marrero, Louisiana

Metairie

1 school

Metairie, Louisiana

Cities Starting with N

1 city

New Orleans

1 school

New Orleans, Louisiana

Cities Starting with O

1 city

Opelousas

6 schools

Opelousas, Louisiana

Cities Starting with S

3 cities

Scott

1 school

Scott, Louisiana

Shreveport

3 schools

Shreveport, Louisiana

Slidell

2 schools

Slidell, Louisiana

Cities Starting with T

2 cities

Terrytown

2 schools

Terrytown, Louisiana

Thibodaux

3 schools

Thibodaux, Louisiana

Cities Starting with Y

1 city

Youngsville

2 schools

Youngsville, Louisiana

Cities Starting with Z

1 city

Zachary

1 school

Zachary, Louisiana

Special Education in Louisiana: What Parents Need to Know

Louisiana is unusual because families may be comparing three separate funding paths at once: an IEP placement, the broad LA GATOR account, and the smaller School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities. They have different eligibility rules and do not carry the same IDEA protections. Start with the child’s evaluation and support needs, then decide which funding route can pay for a school that can actually deliver them.

We currently list 31 specialized schools and programs across 15 communities in Louisiana.

Louisiana allows 60 business days for the initial evaluation

After informed parental consent, Louisiana’s current procedural safeguards guide gives the local education agency 60 business days to complete the initial evaluation. Business days are different from both calendar days and school days: weekdays can continue to count during parts of summer even when classes are not in session. The evaluation determines whether the child meets an exceptionality and needs special education; the IEP is then developed through a separate team process.

Request the evaluation in writing and ask when the consent form will be provided
The 60-business-day clock starts after the agency receives informed parental consent
The evaluation must use multiple sources and address educational need, not diagnosis alone
Parents are members of the eligibility and IEP teams and must receive prior written notice of proposed or refused actions
A reevaluation is generally considered at least every three years unless the parent and agency agree it is unnecessary

Three routes that should not be confused

LA GATOR is Louisiana’s education scholarship account and can pay participating nonpublic-school tuition, tutoring, approved therapies, curriculum, and other qualified expenses. For 2026–27, students with an IDEA disability receive second priority after continuing participants. Louisiana also retains a separate School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities in parishes with at least 190,000 residents; it pays 50% of the state per-pupil amount (the state describes it as about $2,500), and the family pays any tuition balance. Neither is the same as a district-funded private placement required by an IEP.

LA GATOR requires Louisiana residency and annual eligibility; disability is a funding priority, not the only eligibility condition
LA GATOR funds may cover participating-school tuition and approved education services or therapies
The disability-specific School Choice Program is limited to qualifying students in parishes with populations of 190,000 or more
That smaller program pays 50% of the local state per-pupil amount, described by LDOE as approximately $2,500, rather than full tuition
An IEP-funded private placement remains a separate FAPE decision made by the student’s public education agency

Types of Special Needs Schools in Louisiana

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

Participating LA GATOR nonpublic schools

These schools have registered for Louisiana’s education scholarship account program. Participation means the school can receive account funds; it does not guarantee that the school serves every disability or will reproduce a public-school IEP.

Best for: Families who meet LA GATOR eligibility and have verified a participating school’s staffing and services

Exceptionalities-program private schools

Schools in the disability-specific choice program must be BESE approved, comply with Brumfield v. Dodd, show at least two years of experience serving students with exceptionalities, and employ appropriately certified special education teachers.

Best for: Eligible students in the covered large parishes whose needs fit a participating school and whose family can cover remaining tuition

Public and charter specialized programs

Louisiana districts and charter schools operate autism, significant-cognitive-disability, behavioral, and inclusive programs. Charter status does not change IDEA responsibilities: the school remains responsible for child find, evaluation, IEP implementation, and FAPE.

Best for: Students who need public-school IDEA protections with a specialized instructional model

Statewide sensory-disability schools

Louisiana’s state system includes specialized education for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired, along with outreach and assessment expertise. Placement and services should be coordinated through the student’s IEP team.

Best for: Students who need intensive language, communication, orientation, mobility, or accessible-material support

Louisiana Special Needs School Questions

How long does a Louisiana special education evaluation take?

The initial evaluation must be completed within 60 business days after the public agency receives informed parental consent. Business days are not the same as school days, so do not assume the clock stops for every school break. Ask the agency to identify the consent-receipt date and projected completion date in writing.

Does a disability automatically qualify a student for LA GATOR?

No. A student must first meet the program’s Louisiana residency, age, and applicable enrollment or income pathway. For 2026–27, an IDEA disability places an otherwise eligible applicant in the second funding-priority group, alongside households at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Priority affects award order; it does not waive the base eligibility rules.

What is Louisiana’s School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities?

It is a separate, smaller private-school program for qualifying students with disabilities in parishes with populations of at least 190,000. Participating schools must meet specific approval, experience, and staffing requirements. The state contribution is 50% of the state per-pupil amount for the student’s district, approximately $2,500 according to LDOE, so families must plan for any remaining tuition.

Can LA GATOR pay for therapy as well as school?

The Louisiana Department of Education lists approved educational services and therapies among qualified uses, along with participating-school tuition, tutoring, curriculum, assessments, technology, and other defined expenses. The provider and expense must meet program rules. A paid therapy service is not automatically part of a school IEP, so keep the funding and service plans separate.

Where do I start for a Louisiana child under three?

Contact EarlySteps through the regional System Point of Entry. Louisiana’s Department of Health serves infants and toddlers from birth through 35 months who have qualifying delays or medical conditions. EarlySteps uses an Individualized Family Service Plan and should begin transition planning before the child moves to the school system at age three.

Louisiana 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

Document the request and prepare for Louisiana’s 60-business-day clock.

Complete IEP guide

Separate the IEP process from LA GATOR and private-school applications.

504 plan vs IEP

Compare accommodation rights with special education eligibility.

Choosing a special needs school

Verify program participation, staffing, tuition balance, and services before accepting funding.

Early intervention guide

For EarlySteps families preparing for the transition at age three.

ABA therapy centers in Louisiana

Compare therapy providers that may qualify as LA GATOR service providers.

Autism rates by state

Federal identification data for Louisiana and the Gulf region.

Restraint and seclusion by state

Federal civil rights data to review before discussing behavior supports.

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 31 schools and centers across 15 cities in Louisiana, we'll help you find the right educational environment for your child's unique needs.