Top 7 Best Special Needs Schools in Somerville, Massachusetts (2026)

The Arthur D. Healey School, home of the Hawks, is a Somerville Public Schools community serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Three pillars shape our school: the creative arts are integrated across the curriculum, students take on community service that builds civic responsibility, and parents and caregivers act as partners in learning and school leadership. Teaching is project-based, with a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning and community partnerships. Our student support team includes a counselor, a social worker, a dean of students, a special education coordinator and two school nurses. Healey also houses the district's multi-graded classrooms for grades 2 to 5, which provide significantly modified instruction for students who need substantial support to access the general curriculum, with time alongside general education peers when appropriate. Family liaisons work with families in Spanish and Portuguese. Free breakfast is served each morning, and our Pre-K day runs from 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. We have a community schools coordinator on staff, and middle grades students can play on district athletics teams.

• Public school (PreK-8)
• Arts integration
• Project-based learning
• Community service

The Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center is the Somerville Public Schools early learning school on Glen Street, serving Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students, including children in our Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP). We are home of the Cubs, with a schoolwide social-emotional curriculum, onsite gardens and play spaces, and after-school enrichment partnerships. ECIP is an inclusive, multisensory preschool for children ages 3 to 5 who need specially designed instruction because of a disability. It runs both integrated and substantially separate classrooms, and community peer partners join through a developmental screening and lottery. Our A.I.M. program (Adapt, Include, Motivate) serves Pre-K and kindergarten students whose needs involve communication, social interaction, sensory experiences or changes in routine, with a team that can include a BCBA, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist and counselor. Public Pre-K is free for four-year-olds and runs 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., with early release on Wednesdays. Free breakfast is served each morning in every program. Our staff includes a school counselor, an adjustment counselor, a school nurse, a special education coordinator and a Portuguese-speaking family liaison.

• Public early childhood center (Pre-K to K)
• Young children with disabilities
• Early childhood education
• Inclusive preschool

East Somerville Community School, home of the Phoenix, serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade 8 on Cross Street in Somerville. We are home to Unidos, Somerville's K-8 dual language Spanish and English immersion program, which is open to students from across the district. Our rebuilt building has modern technology and outdoor learning spaces. Each grade band, PK-4 and 5-8, has its own dean of students and counselor educator, and our team also includes an adjustment counselor, a school social worker and two school nurses. A special education department coordinator oversees services in our building, and resource room support for reading, math, writing and organization is available in every Somerville school from pre-K through grade 12. Two bilingual family liaisons work with Spanish-speaking families, and free breakfast is served each morning before school. ESCS is known for its afterschool music program, and our Community Schools coordinator connects families with afterschool programs and community services. Middle grades students can join Somerville's middle school athletic teams, and our PTA supports events throughout the year.

• Public school (PK-8)
• Speech therapy
• Community school model
• Public school

Somerville Arts for Youth (SAY) is dedicated to providing an inclusive and enriching environment for students with diverse talents, learning styles, and challenges. The school serves a wide age range of students, including those with language-based learning disabilities and other unique needs, fostering a community where each child can thrive. At SAY, the core mission revolves around harnessing the transformative power of the arts, which allows students to engage in learning that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Through specialized programs in performing arts education, students are encouraged to express themselves creatively while building confidence that positively impacts their overall academic performance. What sets Somerville Arts for Youth apart is its commitment to culturally relevant teaching practices and a strong emphasis on community engagement. With a focus on low student-teacher ratios and strong partnerships with families, SAY ensures that every student receives personalized attention and support in their artistic journey. This holistic approach not only nurtures aspiring artists but also empowers them to become active, engaged citizens in their communities.

• Art school
• Learning differences
• Private school

The Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE) is the adult education program of Somerville Public Schools. We offer free instruction that helps adults build reading, writing, and math skills and earn a high school credential, with morning and evening classes. Our programs include Adult Basic Education, English language learning, workforce programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials, and the Adult Diploma Program, where students complete applied tasks and show competency in 64 life skills to earn a Somerville Public Schools diploma. SCALE is also a HiSET and GED testing center, and learners use our computer lab. Students come from more than 50 countries, and nearly a third are of high school age. We welcome learners with disabilities or visual impairments, and high-demand classes may have a waitlist.

• Public adult education program
• High school equivalency preparation
• Speech therapy
• Financial aid

Founded in 1852 as the Somerville Free High School, Somerville High School opened a new building on Highland Avenue in 2021 with room for nearly 1,600 students in grades 9 to 12. Students are organized into four Communities, Elm, Beacon, Highland and Broadway, each with its own assistant principal, dean and school counselors. The Elm Community serves newcomers in our Multilingual Learner Education program, part of a student body that speaks more than 50 native languages. Ninth graders rotate through every Career and Technical Education program before choosing a pathway, including advanced manufacturing, automotive technology, carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, dental assisting, early education, electrical, graphic communications, health assisting, HVAC-R and metal fabrication. Residents can visit the student-run Highlander Cafe and cosmetology salon. For students with IEPs, we host the A.I.M., Life Skills and SHIP programs, a language-based learning disability program, the PATH therapeutic program, and a transition program for ages 18 to 22. Highlanders compete in more than a dozen varsity sports plus Unified Basketball, Unified Track and club crew.

• Public high school (9-12)
• Career and technical education
• Multilingual learner education
• Public school

Summer Street Preschool is a parent-staff cooperative that has been part of Somerville for 52 years, first under the Agassiz Preschool name. We serve 45 children ages 2 to 5 in three groups, Youngest, Middle and Oldest, in our building at the corner of Summer and Spring streets near Porter Square. Through play, we lay the groundwork for learning. A typical day moves from free play to an all-school meeting with songs and games, then snack, small-group projects, a walk to Dickerman Park, lunch and rest with stories. Our Youngest Group lead teacher trained at the Reggio Emilia training center in Italy, and several of our teachers have been with us for more than a decade. Our staff has long experience with children learning English, and more than a dozen cultures are often represented among our families. Families choose an AM or PM program, with Extended Days available Monday through Thursday, and we also run a summer program. As a co-op, each family works a parent-help shift every five to six weeks, brings the daily snack in rotation and joins a team. Our fundraisers support a scholarship fund.

• Cooperative preschool
• Parent cooperative
• Play-based learning
• Reggio Emilia influence