Best Special Needs Schools in Nashua, New Hampshire (2026)

The District #1 Schoolhouse, located in Nashua, New Hampshire, offers a unique educational experience that immerses students in the rich history of early American schooling. This restored one-room schoolhouse, originally built in 1841, serves as a living history museum where fourth-grade students from Greater Nashua can engage in a hands-on learning environment reminiscent of the past. The school's core mission is to provide an enriching educational program that fosters a deeper understanding of historical education methods and cultural heritage. During their visits, students participate in interactive lessons that involve traditional practices such as using dip ink pens and slates, all under the guidance of dedicated instructors who embody the roles of or The approach taken at the District #1 Schoolhouse emphasizes experiential learning through its carefully curated living history programs. These programs not only educate students about reading, writing, and arithmetic but also encourage them to appreciate the values and challenges faced by their predecessors. The commitment to preserving this aspect of American history is further supported by the King's Daughters Benevolent Association, which has been instrumental in maintaining the schoolhouse and providing free educational experiences for local schools. What sets the District #1 Schoolhouse apart is its dedication to creating an intimate learning atmosphere with a low student-to-teacher ratio and strong partnerships with families and local educators. This unique setting allows for personalized attention that enhances each student's engagement and understanding. Additionally, the school's historic significance as a registered Landmark Schoolhouse with the Country School Association of America highlights its role in promoting awareness and appreciation of one-room schools across the nation. Through community events and ongoing preservation efforts, the District #1 Schoolhouse stands as a beacon of educational heritage for future generations.

• School

2nd Nature Academy began in 1997 as The Nature of Things and today runs from infant care through high school on a 39-acre former 18th-century dairy farm that straddles the Nashua, New Hampshire and Dunstable, Massachusetts line. Our campus borders 700 acres of conservation land and includes the first LEED Platinum non-residential building in New Hampshire, an animal barn, orchards, gardens, trails, a low-ropes course and a saltwater pool. Learning is experiential and project-based. Kindergarten and grades 1 to 5 connect math, reading and science to the outdoors, middle school adds small classes with explicit coaching in organization and study habits, and high school offers advanced coursework, independent study and college and career preparation. Nature's Pathways serves children from 8 weeks to 5 years with daily forest hikes and Orton-Gillingham inspired phonics. Our school holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Annual tuition is $16,950 for elementary, $18,150 for middle school and $21,180 for high school, admissions are need-blind, and 46% of students receive financial assistance. We welcome students with existing IEPs and 504 plans and make reasonable accommodations, though we are not a special education school.

• Private experiential school (infants to grade 12)
• Experiential education
• Place-based learning
• Outdoor and forest learning

Wise Owl Academy traces its roots to 1982, when Wise Owl Preschool opened in Nashua and was led by its founder for 32 years. Our current owner and director took over in 2014 with a single 4-year-old class of six students, and after reaching capacity we moved in September 2020 into a larger building on Merrit Parkway near Main Dunstable Elementary in the Maplewood area. A second nearby building opened in June 2025, bringing our capacity to 152 children. Our program welcomes children from 2 months to 13 years. Our year-round daycare covers infants, transition and toddler rooms through 35 months, with flexible 2, 3 or 5 day schedules and low ratios. Preschool runs September to June in half-day and full-day formats, moving from early preschool (36 to 47 months) to pre-kindergarten with structured math, science and arts, and a private kindergarten for children who turn 5 by December covering math, science, language and social studies. School-age children join our before and after school program, and summer camp runs weekly themes for ages 3 to 13. We are open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.

• Private preschool and childcare center
• Early literacy
• Structured academics
• Small class sizes