Top 4 Best Special Needs Schools in Willmar, Minnesota (2026)

DREAM Technical Academy is a free public charter school located in Willmar, Minnesota, dedicated to serving middle and high school students in grades 7-12. The academy's core mission centers on providing a student-directed learning environment that nurtures each individual's unique needs and capacities. Students who thrive in this setting often include those with diverse learning profiles, such as language-based learning disabilities or those who are twice-exceptional. The school's innovative project-based learning (PBL) approach empowers students to take charge of their education by developing personalized learning plans that align with their interests and passions. This methodology not only fosters deeper engagement and ownership of their educational journey but also equips them with essential 21st-century skills such as creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and independence. What sets DREAM Technical Academy apart is its commitment to creating a supportive community where every student is valued as a whole person"”heart, mind, body, and soul. The school maintains a low student-teacher ratio, allowing for individualized attention and fostering strong partnerships between families and educators. Additionally, the focus on social-emotional well-being ensures that all students feel safe and supported, promoting resilience and effective coping strategies. With an emphasis on authentic assessment practices and restorative justice principles, DREAM Technical Academy cultivates an enriching environment that not only prepares students for academic success but also encourages them to become compassionate global citizens ready to make meaningful contributions to society.

• Charter school
• Learning differences
• Twice-exceptional
• Public school

Kennedy Elementary is one of three elementary schools in Willmar Public Schools, and our building also hosts district preschool classes, so preschoolers can start at the school they will attend for kindergarten. Our preschool programs hold a Parent Aware 4 Star Rating. Cardinal Kids is a full-day program for 4-year-olds, and Kids Together is a half-day option for 3- and 4-year-olds two to five days a week, with scholarships for qualifying families. From kindergarten up, Kennedy is a Title I school with special education staff, a Title I teacher, physical education and a media center team in the building. District programs open to our students include gifted and talented services, multilingual learner support, special education and multi-tiered systems of support. We share family resources in Spanish, Somali and Karen, and busing is available.

• Public elementary school with preschool
• Parent Aware 4 Star preschool
• Public school

Lakeland Elementary is a pre-K through fifth grade building in Willmar with about 600 students. The building is laid out so grade-level teachers and support staff can work together. Preschool is part of our building. Cardinal Kids is a full-day program for four-year-olds that runs September to May, and Kids Together is a half-day option for three- and four-year-olds, two to five days a week, with scholarships for qualifying families. Willmar Public Schools preschool holds a Parent Aware 4 Star Rating, and licensed preschool teachers use play to prepare children for kindergarten. Cardinal Place child care is available from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for families who need early drop-off or late pickup, and district programs open to our students include gifted and talented services, multilingual learner support and special education.

• Public elementary school (PreK-5)
• Public school

Roosevelt Elementary is a Title I school in Willmar Public Schools, serving preschool through 5th grade on 19th Avenue Southwest. Our staff includes special education teachers and paraprofessionals, bilingual paraprofessionals, a cultural liaison, a social worker, instructional coaches, library media specialists, a developmental adapted physical education teacher, and a teacher of students with visual impairments who also leads gifted and talented services. Our preschool program holds a Parent Aware 4 Star Rating. Cardinal Kids is a full-day program for 4-year-olds that runs September to May, and Kids Together is a half-day option for 3- and 4-year-olds two to five days a week, with scholarships for qualifying families. Children attend preschool at the elementary school they will attend, which eases the move to kindergarten. Schoolwide expectations follow Cardinal S.T.A.R.S., our PBIS model, with a word of the month such as gratitude, fairness, or responsibility, and weekly drawings for Breakfast S.T.A.R.S. and V.I.P. lunch. District busing serves our families.

• Public elementary school (PreK-5)
• Visual impairments
• Public school