Find Top Programs in Minnesota
Discover Minnesota schools and centers with individualized instruction, low student-teacher ratios, and integrated social-emotional support. Browse programs across 70 cities with 257 total programs.
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Cities with Schools in Minnesota
Explore schools across 70 cities in Minnesota. Use search to quickly find schools in your area.
Popular Cities
Cities with the most schoolsMinneapolis
24Missoula
19Lakeville
15Plymouth
12St Paul
12Burnsville
10Forest Lake
10Roseville
10All Cities A-Z
70 cities totalCities Starting with A
2 citiesCities Starting with B
6 citiesCities Starting with C
6 citiesCities Starting with E
6 citiesCities Starting with F
4 citiesCities Starting with G
3 citiesCities Starting with H
3 citiesCities Starting with J
1 cityCities Starting with K
2 citiesCities Starting with L
3 citiesCities Starting with M
8 citiesMankato
2Maplewood
3Medina
1Minneapolis
24Minnetonka
3Missoula
19Monticello
1Moorhead
2Cities Starting with N
3 citiesCities Starting with O
3 citiesCities Starting with P
3 citiesCities Starting with R
6 citiesCities Starting with S
8 citiesSartell
2Savage
1Shakopee
2Shoreview
1South St Paul
1St Louis Park
2St Michael
3St Paul
12Cities Starting with W
3 citiesSpecial Education in Minnesota: What Parents Need to Know
Minnesota gives districts 30 school days to evaluate after consent and then uses a separate 30-calendar-day deadline for the first IEP meeting after eligibility. Minnesota tax deductions and credits can offset some education expenses, but they are not a disability voucher or a substitute for an IEP placement.
We currently list 257 specialized schools and programs across 70 communities in Minnesota.
Evaluation and IEP timing in Minnesota
The district must conduct the initial evaluation and provide the evaluation report within 30 school days after receiving consent. If the student is eligible, the initial IEP team meeting must occur within 30 calendar days of that determination.
- Evaluation and the written report are due within 30 school days of consent
- The first IEP meeting is due within 30 calendar days after eligibility
- School days and calendar days are used for different stages
How specialized placements are funded in Minnesota
Minnesota has a K-12 education subtraction and an income-limited credit for qualifying expenses, with different rules on whether tuition counts. Public payment for a private special education placement still depends on an IEP-team decision that the district needs that setting to provide FAPE.
- The subtraction and credit are tax provisions, not advance tuition vouchers
- The credit and subtraction cover different expense categories
- District-funded private placement remains an IDEA placement decision
Types of Special Needs Schools in Minnesota
Not every placement type exists in every state. These are the settings families actually find in Minnesota.
Contracted care-and-treatment and private special education programs
Minnesota districts and cooperatives use regional programs and contracted settings when the IEP cannot be implemented in the neighborhood-school continuum.
Best for: Students whose funding route, IEP, or support needs match this state-specific placement category
District and regional public programs
Minnesota districts may serve students in neighborhood schools, separate classrooms, regional cooperatives, or public separate schools depending on the IEP.
Best for: Students who can receive FAPE within the public-school continuum
Autism and therapeutic day schools
These programs combine academics with behavioral, communication, sensory, or clinical support. Approval and public-payment status must be checked separately.
Best for: Students who need coordinated instruction and therapeutic support throughout the school day
Independent schools for learning differences
These schools commonly focus on dyslexia, language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, executive function, or small-group instruction.
Best for: Students who need specialized teaching but not an intensive therapeutic placement
Minnesota Special Needs School Questions
How long does a special education evaluation take in Minnesota?
The district must conduct the initial evaluation and provide the evaluation report within 30 school days after receiving consent. If the student is eligible, the initial IEP team meeting must occur within 30 calendar days of that determination.
What funding can families use for a specialized school in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a K-12 education subtraction and an income-limited credit for qualifying expenses, with different rules on whether tuition counts. Public payment for a private special education placement still depends on an IEP-team decision that the district needs that setting to provide FAPE.
Can a Minnesota district pay for a private special education placement?
Yes, when the IEP team determines that the district cannot provide FAPE in its own programs. The public agency then remains responsible for the placement and IEP. A family-selected private enrollment or scholarship is a different legal and funding route.
What types of specialized schools operate in Minnesota?
The state-specific options described on this page include Contracted care-and-treatment and private special education programs, District and regional public programs, Autism and therapeutic day schools, Independent schools for learning differences. Approval, tuition responsibility, and admission rules differ by setting, so confirm both the school's status and who is responsible for payment before enrolling.
Where should I start for a child under three in Minnesota?
Help Me Grow Minnesota is the state's birth-to-three starting point. Help Me Grow receives referrals for infants and toddlers, connects families to local early intervention teams, and supports transition toward age-three school services.
Minnesota Guides & Resources
Next steps for families comparing schools, requesting an evaluation, or working out how to pay for a placement.
How to request a special education evaluation
Start the written record before tracking Minnesota's evaluation timeline.
Read more →Complete IEP guide
Prepare for eligibility, services, placement, and annual review decisions.
Read more →504 plan vs IEP
Compare the protections and services available through each plan.
Read more →Choosing a special needs school
Questions to ask when comparing programs in Minnesota.
Read more →Early intervention guide
Understand birth-to-three services and the transition into Minnesota schools.
Read more →IEP meeting prep checklist
Organize records, questions, and priorities before the team meets.
Read more →Autism rates by state
Compare federal autism-identification data for Minnesota.
Read more →Restraint and seclusion by state
Review federal civil-rights data when comparing Minnesota programs.
Read more →Sources for this page
- Minnesota evaluation and special education guidance
- Minnesota placement or education funding guidance
- Help Me Grow Minnesota official program information
State rules change. This page was last reviewed against primary sources on July 28, 2026. Confirm current requirements with your school district or the relevant state agency before making a decision.
Find Your Perfect Match
With 257 schools and centers across 70 cities in Minnesota, we'll help you find the right educational environment for your child's unique needs.