Top 4 Best Special Needs Schools in Essex, Maryland (2026)

Chesapeake High School STEM Academy is a Baltimore County Public Schools high school on Turkey Point Road, and our mission centers on a STEM-based culture. Students can take Project Lead The Way courses, join AVID, follow a criminal justice pathway in social studies, and use work-based learning and career navigation to plan their next step. Every BCPS senior also has Direct Admit to the Community College of Baltimore County, and we offer early college access at CCBC. We provide a continuum of special education services for students with IEPs. Most learn in general education classes with support from special educators and para-educators, and smaller core classes in English, reading, math, science and social studies are available when an IEP calls for them. Our Functional and Academic Learning Support (FALS) program serves students working toward a certificate of attendance, usually until age 21, and every student with an IEP has a case manager. Clubs include Model UN, HOSA, Best Buddies, Bayhawk News Network, drama, dance, chess, cooking, tabletop gaming and instrumental music, along with nine honor societies. We also have a school-based health center and an activity bus.

• Public high school (STEM academy)
• STEM
• Project Lead The Way
• Inclusion classrooms

Essex Elementary School is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment for students with diverse learning needs, specifically serving children aged 4 to 11 who may experience challenges such as language-based learning disabilities or other developmental differences. The school's core mission revolves around empowering these young learners through tailored educational strategies and comprehensive support systems. Essex Elementary employs a variety of innovative programs and therapeutic methodologies designed to meet the unique needs of each student, ensuring that they receive personalized attention and encouragement in their academic journey. What sets Essex Elementary apart is its commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio, which allows for individualized instruction and fosters meaningful relationships between educators and students. Additionally, the school emphasizes strong partnerships with families, recognizing the vital role that parents and guardians play in their children's education. Specialized facilities and resources are available to enhance learning experiences, along with unique community events that promote inclusivity and engagement among all stakeholders. This holistic approach not only nurtures academic growth but also supports social-emotional development, making Essex Elementary a distinctive choice for families seeking a compassionate and effective educational setting for their children.

• Elementary school
• developmental differences
• Learning differences
• Private school

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School has taught children in Essex since 1927. Its Catholic campus brings Pre-K through grade 12 together, from early learning and lower school to middle school and a college-preparatory high school. The school operates as an Archdiocesan Collaborative School: local leaders manage the day-to-day program with support from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Its 2025–26 profile records 598 students, and the school holds Cognia/SACS CASI accreditation. Students move through a program that joins academic study, faith, service, arts, and athletics. Class size changes by division: the 2025–26 profile lists averages of 20 in Pre-K 3, 23 in elementary school, 24 in middle school, and 14 in high school. Classroom technology grows with students, including one-to-one devices in grades K–5 and Chromebooks in middle school. The 53 graduates in the Class of 2025 earned a combined $10 million in scholarships; high school counselors help juniors and seniors plan applications, visit college fairs, and prepare for life after graduation. When a student needs academic or behavioral help, a licensed special educator leads the Student Assistance Plan team. Staff develop accommodations, work with teachers, share updates with families, and revisit each plan as the student progresses. In lower and middle school, a counselor meets with students individually or in small groups and teaches friendship, empathy, conflict resolution, and emotional skills. FRIENDZY reinforces those relationship skills, while Anti-Bullying Week and Mental Health Week bring the wider school into the work. A school nurse supports student health, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports helps guide behavior across the school. Families with children in grades K–8 can use before- and after-school care, and those students also join Career Day. Lower and middle school classes normally run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; high school follows a 7:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. schedule. Families can use the school's contact form to discuss admissions and support.

• Catholic co-ed PreK-12 school
• Private school

St. Stephen's Creative Learning Center (also presented as St. Stephens Christian Academy) is a non-profit private Christian school at 1525 Old Eastern Ave in Essex, Maryland. It was established in 2005 with help from the former pastor of St. Stephen's A.M.E. Church, who recruited a former school principal to build the program. It began with a Kindergarten class of six students and now teaches Kindergarten through 5th grade, with stated plans to expand to 8th grade. The school is a member of ACSI (the Association of Christian Schools International) and is governed by a Board of Directors along with parents of the student body. The center runs three tracks. The Pre-Academy accepts children from 6 weeks old through Pre-K4. The Christian Academy covers Kindergarten through 5th grade. Out of School Time programming provides before and after care from 7:00am to 8:00am and 3:00pm to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. During the school year, arrival is at 8:30am, lunch is at noon, and dismissal is at 3:00pm (children not picked up by 3:15pm move into the Enrichment Academy at an hourly fee). A summer program (the Summer Scholar / Summer Enrichment program) mixes educational activities, games, and arts and crafts. The school emphasizes small class sizes, a low student-to-teacher ratio, and individualized attention, which fits families whose children benefit from more one-on-one support, and the curriculum pairs academics with Christian teaching organized around four core values: Knowledge, Spirituality, Understanding, and Civility. As a non-profit supported by tuition, the St. Stephen's A.M.E. Church, and charitable donations, it positions its tuition as among the lowest in the Essex area, with payment plans available annually, semi-annually, monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly. Scholarships, grants, and child care vouchers are accepted (the site points families to money4childcare.com to check eligibility). Enrollment runs through an application, a registration fee, entrance testing, and an interview with the Administrator. Students entering must be five years old by December 31, and the school requires proof of age (birth certificate), documented immunizations per Maryland law, and a completed physical examination form.

• Non-profit Christian preschool and K-5 elementary school
• Private school