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Best Special Needs Schools in Towson, Maryland (2026)

Compare 2 special needs schools in Towson. Explore the ranked list and find a program that feels right for your child.

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School listings in Towson

Nearby school options

Compare special-needs schools near Towson

Families often compare nearby cities when commute, availability, services, or age fit differ.

Special-needs schools in Baltimore Compare 24 programs about 7 miles away. Special-needs schools in Owings Mills Compare 5 programs about 10 miles away. Special-needs schools in Essex Compare 4 programs about 10 miles away.
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Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Towson

Use these guides before you contact programs, schedule tours, or ask your IEP team how a proposed setting will support your child's goals.

Maryland nonpublic placement guide

When the IEP requires it, the school system pays for a private special education school. How that works.

Maryland BOOST Scholarship guide

Award amounts, eligibility, and the next application window for private school tuition help.

How to choose a special needs school

Prepare school-tour questions, compare supports and family communication, and record what each program can show you.

IEP process guide

Bring your IEP, progress evidence, and focused questions to conversations about evaluations, services, or placement.

Also Looking for ABA Therapy?

Find ABA therapy centers in Towson, Maryland. Many families use both specialized schools and therapy services to support their child's development.

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Comparing school options in Towson

Towson is the Baltimore County seat, and Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) runs its central office from North Charles Street here. A short way south on the same road, Sheppard Pratt runs a special education school inside its residential treatment center, and on Orchard Tree Lane the Arrow Center for Education Tangram teaches students with autism.

This page lists two Towson schools that Maryland approves as publicly funded nonpublic special education schools. The answers below cover who each one serves, how a Baltimore County IEP team places a student there, evaluations, and the state BOOST scholarship.

Local resources checked .

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Towson

Are there autism schools in Towson, MD?
Yes. The Arrow Center for Education Tangram on Orchard Tree Lane holds Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approval as a full-day special education program for students with autism, covering grades 3 through 12 plus a nongraded program for ages 8 to 21. Because the state funds it as a nonpublic school, a student usually arrives there after a BCPS IEP team decides a district setting cannot meet the child's needs.
What is a nonpublic special education school in Maryland?
It is a private school that holds an MSDE Certificate of Approval to serve students with disabilities using public funds. Both Towson schools on this page appear on the state's list of publicly funded nonpublic schools. When BCPS places your child in one through the IEP, federal rules require the special education and related services to come at no cost to you. A family that enrolls a child privately, without a district placement, pays the school directly.
What is Sheppard Pratt School and Residential Treatment Center in Towson?
It is a 46-bed licensed residential treatment center on Sheppard Pratt's historic Towson campus for youth ages 12 to 18 with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities. Referrals come from the Department of Social Services, the Department of Juvenile Services, or the local Core Service Agency and families. Residents attend a full-day school that runs 12 months a year, with small classes, occupational therapy, family therapy, psychiatric care and vocational training. MSDE lists the school for grades 7 through 12, and Sheppard Pratt Schools belongs to NAPSEC, the national association of private special education schools.
Where can a Towson child with dyslexia or ADHD get school support?
Start with your BCPS school. Federal special education rules name dyslexia as a specific learning disability and list ADHD under other health impairment, so either can qualify a child for an IEP when it gets in the way of learning. A child who needs accommodations such as extra time or a quieter testing room, without specialized instruction, can receive a Section 504 plan. Ask the school team which reading intervention it would use and how often it checks progress.
How do I request a special education evaluation in Baltimore County?
If your child attends a BCPS school, contact that school and ask for a screening in writing. Preschoolers who live in Baltimore County and are not in a preschool program, and students ages 3 to 21 at an MSDE-approved private or parochial school in the county, go through BCPS Child Find at 443-809-3017. For a child under 3, call the Baltimore County Infants and Toddlers Program at 443-809-2169. Screening and evaluations are free.
Does Maryland have a scholarship for private school tuition?
Maryland's program is BOOST, short for Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today. It helps students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals attend a participating nonpublic school in kindergarten through grade 12. For the 2026-27 school year, parents applied from March 9 to May 8, 2026. Awards depend on household income, grade level and the aid a school already gives, and the state reduces any award that would exceed the tuition you owe. Only schools on the state's participating list qualify.
How do public, private and nonpublic schools in Towson differ on cost?
BCPS schools are free. Private schools set their own tuition and do not write IEPs. Nonpublic special education schools such as Tangram and the Sheppard Pratt school sit in between: the state approves them, and a district placement through the IEP covers the cost. Ask any other private school in writing which supports it will provide.
What should I ask a Towson special needs school on a tour?
Ask how many students share a classroom and how many adults work in it. Ask who provides speech, occupational therapy and counseling, and whether sessions happen in class. At a residential program, ask how school staff and treatment staff share information with you. Ask how the school reports progress on IEP goals, how it handles a crisis, and what the plan looks like for returning your child to a BCPS school.

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