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Best Special Needs Schools in Sartell, Minnesota (2026)

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

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School listings in Sartell

1

Oak Ridge Early Learning Center

Listed
Sartell, MNGrades PreK-5Sliding-fee preschool tuition

Oak Ridge Early Learning Center is where Sartell-St. Stephen students start school: our building houses all of District 748's preschool and kindergarten students. Our Little Sabres preschool holds a 4-star Parent Aware rating and serves children ages 3 to 5. Three-year-olds attend two days a week, and four- and five-year-olds choose full days on a three- or five-day schedule, with tuition on a sliding fee scale. Kindergarten students get 25 minutes of physical education and 25 minutes of music daily, plus weekly art and time in our STEAM lab. Our licensed teachers use district curriculum in literacy, math, science, social studies and social-emotional learning. We also host Early Childhood Family Education classes, early childhood screening and Early Childhood Special Education. For extended hours, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota runs KIDSTART wraparound care for preschoolers, and before- and after-school child care is available for kindergartners.

  • Public early learning center (preschool and kindergarten)
  • Public school
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2

Sartell High School

Listed
Sartell, MNGrades 9-12Tuition-free

Sartell High School serves grades 9 to 12 in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District, and each student receives a MacBook Air for schoolwork. Ninth graders and new 10th to 12th grade students start the year at Sabre Splash, a welcome day led mostly by 11th and 12th grade mentors, and families schedule personal Sabre Launch conferences at the start of the year. Our Family and Consumer Sciences department runs The Mill, a student-operated coffee shop and Sabre spirit store where students get hands-on experience running a business in the hospitality industry. Our counseling office supports college and career readiness along with academic, emotional, and social concerns, and helps students use Post Secondary Enrollment Options and credit for learning. Students stage theater productions in our performing arts center, write for the LeSabre student newspaper, and compete in Sabre athletics.

  • Public high school
  • Student-run business
  • Public school
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Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Sartell

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 Sartell

Sartell-St. Stephen Schools (ISD 748) runs five buildings, from Oak Ridge Early Learning Center to Sartell High School, and its Early Childhood Special Education program starts at birth. For its youngest students, the district partners with Benton Stearns Education District on home-based services and on mental health and therapy support.

This page lists Oak Ridge Early Learning Center on 27th Street North and Sartell High School on Pine Cone Road. Federal data shows how many students in each building have IEPs, and the answers below cover preschool special education, evaluations and Minnesota's tax help for private school.

Local resources checked .

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Sartell

Which Sartell school fits a child with special needs?
That depends on the supports your child needs, and the two buildings on this page both serve many students with disability plans. In 2021-22 federal civil rights data, 47 of Oak Ridge's 284 students had IEPs, and Sartell High reported 181 IEPs and 44 Section 504 plans among 1,346 students. Those numbers tell you staff work with disabilities every day. Ask the building what that looks like for a child like yours.
Does Sartell have a preschool for kids with autism or delays?
Yes. Oak Ridge Early Learning Center houses all of the district's preschool and kindergarten students, and Early Childhood Special Education for children three and older is fully integrated with the Little Sabres preschool there. Special education teachers, speech-language pathologists and adaptive physical education teachers work on staff. The district's early childhood program holds a 4-star Parent Aware rating, the highest available, and preschool tuition runs on a sliding fee scale.
What happens if my baby or toddler in Sartell has a delay?
Children from birth to age three get home-based Early Childhood Special Education, delivered in partnership with Benton Stearns Education District. To start, make a referral through Help Me Grow, Minnesota's interagency referral system, and your local district contacts you to arrange a screening or evaluation at no cost. If your child qualifies, services move to the center-based program at Oak Ridge once your child turns three.
Can a Sartell student with dyslexia or ADHD get an IEP or 504 plan?
Both are possible. Federal rules count dyslexia as a specific learning disability and usually place ADHD under other health impairment, which can lead to an IEP when your child needs specialized instruction. A child who mostly needs accommodations may fit a Section 504 plan instead. Sartell-St. Stephen names a dedicated 504 contact in each school, and you can also start with your child's teacher or counselor.
How do class sizes compare across Sartell schools?
Federal enrollment data for 2023-24 counted 306 students and 26 teachers at Oak Ridge, about 11.8 students per teacher, and 1,315 students with about 16.4 per teacher at Sartell High. A larger high school brings more course and activity choices, along with busier hallways. If crowds are hard for your teen, ask whether the IEP can include passing-time or lunchroom supports.
Does Minnesota help pay for private school for Sartell families?
Sartell High is public and charges no tuition, but if you choose a private school, the state tax code offers some help. Private tuition for a child in grades 7 through 12 can reduce your taxable income by up to $2,500 through the K-12 Education Subtraction, or by up to $1,625 for kindergarten through grade 6, whatever your income. The separate K-12 Education Credit applies to costs like tutoring, never tuition, and for tax year 2025 it is limited to households with one or two qualifying children and adjusted gross income of $81,820 or less.
How do I request a special education evaluation in Sartell?
Put the request in writing to your child's principal or the district's special education coordinator, and keep a dated copy. School social workers are partners in the evaluation process alongside teachers and psychologists. Minnesota rules require the evaluation within a reasonable time not to exceed 30 school days after the district receives your written permission. For a child under three, start with a Help Me Grow referral instead.
What should I ask when touring Oak Ridge or Sartell High?
At Oak Ridge, ask how special education staff share time in Little Sabres classrooms, and whether KIDSTART, the Boys and Girls Club's wraparound care for four-year-olds, can support your child's needs. At Sartell High, ask who manages the IEP day to day and how students with 504 plans get accommodations in large classes. Ask both buildings how they tell you about progress between meetings.

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