Sheppard Pratt School in Hunt Valley

Sheppard Pratt School in Hunt Valley is a nonpublic special education day school at 11201 Pepper Road in Hunt Valley, Maryland, operated as part of the Sheppard Pratt health system. It runs year-round and serves students ages 5 to 21 who have an autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, or other health impairment. The school is a Type I School approved by the Maryland State Department of Education, and most students arrive through the special education referral process from neighboring districts, including Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County, Harford County, and Howard County. Current capacity is 72 students.

Classes are small, with a 2:1 staff-to-student ratio, and students are grouped by age, size, social skills, behavior, and ability rather than grade alone. The staff includes licensed teachers, behavioral specialists, curriculum specialists, occupational and speech therapists, and trained assistants. After admission, the team reviews each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) to set placement, and most students also have a behavior intervention plan. The curriculum is adapted from state and local school system standards and draws on the Syracuse Community-Referenced Curriculum Guide, the Essential for Living curriculum, and Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) behavior programming. Every classroom uses an interactive whiteboard, and many students use personal communication devices.

Related services provided onsite include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, onsite medication monitoring, and psychiatric and psychological services as needed. The program leans heavily on functional and vocational learning: students take unpaid internships with local businesses and work jobs at the school store, cafeteria, and front office, and a "mock apartment" lets them practice laundry, meal preparation, and other daily living skills. There is a sensory and occupational therapy room, an integrated multipurpose room, and an accessible playground. The school hosts events such as a Homecoming Dance, Halloween party, Carnival Day, and a Thanksgiving feast, and runs an active Parent Teacher Organization.

For students working toward graduation, the school issues a Certificate of Completion and helps families connect with transition resources, including job placement and housing agencies. Some students attend for a period of extra support and then return to their home schools. The school can be reached at 410-527-9505.