Top 6 Best Special Needs Schools in Papillion, Nebraska (2026)

Papillion Middle School is a public middle school at 423 South Washington Street in Papillion, serving seventh and eighth-grade students within Papillion La Vista Community Schools. Conveniently located near downtown Papillion, the school prepares adolescent learners for high school through departmentalized core academic instruction and diverse exploratory opportunities. Students take pre-algebra, algebra, English language arts, integrated science, and American history, accompanied by elective rotations in visual arts, computer science, family and consumer sciences, industrial technology, vocal choir, and instrumental band. Seventh and eighth graders can participate in interscholastic athletics as the Junior Monarchs, including cross country, volleyball, football, basketball, wrestling, and track. Special education case managers deliver resource room support, co-taught classroom instruction, speech-language therapy, and individualized accommodations.

• Middle school
• Public school
• Grades seven and eight
• Junior Monarch athletics

Papillion Montessori is an independent, locally owned early childhood learning center located at 711 Olson Drive in Papillion. The school serves infants, toddlers, and preschool children from six weeks through six years old (Pre-K). Classrooms are prepared by certified Montessori educators to foster self-direction, focus, curiosity, and social awareness through purposeful, uninterrupted learning activities. Programs include a morning preschool session (Montessori Mornings for ages 3 to 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.), a standard School Day option from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and a Full Day option from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with four-day and five-day schedules. Before-school care from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. is also available. Papillion Montessori emphasizes individual progress across practical life, sensorial exploration, early literacy, mathematics, and creative expression in structured classroom environments.

• Montessori school
• Montessori
• Self-directed learning
• Practical life and sensorial foundation

Prairie Queen Elementary School is a modern public primary facility located at 10520 South 123rd Avenue in Papillion, serving students from kindergarten through sixth grade in Papillion La Vista Community Schools. Opened in 2015 adjacent to the Prairie Queen Recreation Area, the school features energy-efficient architecture, flexible collaborative learning spaces, and integrated classroom technology. Instruction focuses on structured phonics, literature-rich reading comprehension, mathematical problem solving, hands-on science experiments, visual art, vocal music, and physical education. Competing and celebrating school spirit as the Prairie Queen Mustangs, the school emphasizes a culture of kindness, perseverance, and mutual respect. Prairie Queen houses specialized early literacy interventions, high-ability learner (HAL) enrichment, and inclusive special education resource services with speech and motor therapy. The PLCS Foundation operates on-site Kids Club childcare before and after instructional hours.

• Elementary school
• Public school
• Kindergarten through sixth grade
• Home of the Mustangs

Rumsey Station Elementary School opened in 1995 and is named for Rumsey Saling, one of the first settlers in Sarpy County and its first sheriff, whose name went to a railroad depot near the school site. That history explains our mascot: students are the Engineers, represented by a train engine, in maroon and gold. Additions followed with the 2006 bond. We serve kindergarten through sixth grade in Papillion La Vista Community Schools. Math is taught with Math Investigations in grades K to 5 and Connected Math in sixth grade, and students also have art, music, physical education, library time and counselor-led lessons. Sixth graders can join band and take part in a two-day outdoor education trip to Carol Joy Holling Camp near Ashland. After school, students can sign up for Art Club, Choir Club, ASL Club, Battle of the Books, Garden Club and an Engineering Club that builds out the school's train set, plus Student Council and Safety Patrol. District special education services, including speech, occupational and physical therapy and school psychology, are delivered in neighborhood schools whenever possible, along with Section 504 plans and High Ability Learner support.

• Public elementary school (K-6)
• Inclusive special education
• Public school

Walnut Creek Elementary opened in the fall of 2000 to serve the growing southwest side of Papillion, and our Wildcats wear blue and silver. We teach kindergarten through 6th grade as part of Papillion La Vista Community Schools, in a building designed with flexible learning spaces. Students follow district standards in reading, writing, math, science and social studies, and our High-Ability Learner (HAL) program gives advanced students extended projects, such as 6th graders designing future cities built to withstand wildfires. Special education is delivered in district neighborhood schools and can include speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy, vision and hearing services, school psychology and assistive technology, planned through each student's IEP with general education peers as much as possible. PBIS guides school-wide expectations. Clubs meet before and after school: 6th grade band, choir for grades 3 to 6, Girls on the Run, the Green Team, the K-Kids service club, and Paws & Patches for students from military-connected families. A 2023 bond project now in progress adds a secure entrance, a finishing kitchen with an extra entree option, playground updates and interior improvements, with completion planned for August 2027.

• Public elementary school (K-6)
• Inclusion classrooms
• Gifted enrichment
• Public school

Young Adult Transition Program (YATP) is a Papillion La Vista Community Schools program for students ages 18-21 with special needs. Its dedicated Papillion facility is designed for life-skills training and educational programming, with classrooms, kitchen space, a commons area, and spaces that support individual instruction and group activities as students prepare for greater independence.

• School
• Special education needs
• Transition support
• Life skills