Best Special Needs Schools in Waterford Township, Michigan (2026)

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

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Oakside Prep Academy

Listed

Waterford Township, MIGrades PreK-12Tuition-free

Oakside Prep Academy is a tuition-free public charter school in Waterford serving students from Young 5s through 12th grade. We belong to the National Heritage Academies network of more than 100 schools, and Bay Mills Community College authorizes our charter. We celebrated our first graduating seniors in 2025. Every classroom is backed by a designated dean who helps teachers strengthen instruction and gives students extra support when they need it. Our deans include a Dean of Special Education, and our team provides intervention services and resources for multilingual learners. Character education runs through the day in our Moral Focus program, where students practice virtues such as respect, gratitude, perseverance, and integrity. High school students receive college counseling and can join our Early Middle College program, clubs, and athletics. Admission requires no entrance exams or interviews; when applications exceed openings during Open Enrollment, we hold a random lottery. Families can use before and after school care and transportation.

Public charter school (Y5-12)
Character education
Public school

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Waterford School District/ Durant high school

Listed

Waterford Township, MIGrades 9-12Tuition-free

Durant High School is the third high school in the Waterford School District, built for students who have fallen behind in credits or who simply want a smaller high school setting. We enroll roughly 175 to 200 students per term, ages 15 to 19, who are in at least their second year of high school. Durant is a high school, not an adult education program. Our curriculum matches the one taught at Kettering and Mott High Schools, and students meet the same State of Michigan and district graduation requirements. Some electives are unique to Durant. Graduates earn a Durant High School diploma. The small setting means close teacher and student connections, and our teachers use differentiated instruction and adjust their methods to each student's needs. A school counselor supports college and career planning, and students can reach career and technical courses through the Oakland Schools Technical Campus. We also have student leadership opportunities. Our goal is simple: every student earns a diploma and leaves ready for college or the workforce.

Public alternative high school (credit recovery)
Credit recovery
Small school setting
Differentiated instruction

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Nearby school options

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Planning guides

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

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.

Comparing school options in Waterford Township

Waterford School District's Student Support Services department oversees special education and Section 504 for its students. Michigan provides special education to eligible children from birth through 25. From birth to age 3, services run through Early On with an Individualized Family Service Plan. From age 3, a multidisciplinary evaluation team evaluates the child and the IEP team, including the parent, decides eligibility.

Confirm your district by address, because a township name and a school district boundary are not always the same. Waterford identifies specific learning disabilities in kindergarten through grade 12 with a Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses process covering areas such as oral expression, reading comprehension and fluency, and math. A district Parent Advisory Committee of parents of children with disabilities meets regularly with the executive director of Student Support Services. Oakland Schools supports the district at the county level.

Local resources checked October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Waterford Township

Who decides whether a Waterford student is eligible?

For children 3 and older, a multidisciplinary evaluation team conducts the initial evaluation, and then the IEP team, which includes the parent, determines eligibility. If the student qualifies, the IEP team writes the plan. For children under 3, eligibility goes into an Individualized Family Service Plan through Early On. Our IEP guide covers each meeting.

How does Waterford identify a learning disability?

Waterford uses a Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses process for kindergarten through grade 12. The team looks at oral expression, listening comprehension, written expression, reading comprehension, reading fluency, math calculation, and math problem solving, and checks whether the student is not achieving adequately despite appropriate instruction. Ask for the data used at each step.

Is there a parent group for Waterford special education?

Yes. The Waterford School District Parent Advisory Committee is made up of parents of children with disabilities and meets regularly with the executive director of Student Support Services to give feedback on special education programs. Oakland County also has a countywide Parent Advisory Committee with district representatives. Both are good places to hear how others handled referrals.

Should I ask for a 504 plan or an IEP?

Waterford explains that a 504 plan documents accommodations and services a student needs for equal access to education compared with peers. An IEP adds specially designed instruction for a student found eligible for special education. If you are unsure, request an evaluation and ask the team to consider both. Our 504 vs IEP guide compares them.

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