Top 7 Best Special Needs Schools in Millville, New Jersey (2026)

Lakeside Middle School has been an AVID National Demonstration School for 17 years, and we teach AVID's organization and study habits to help students prepare for high school and college. Our school opened in 1999 on Sharp Street and serves Millville Public Schools students in grades 6 to 8. We were named a State School of Character in 2023 and a National School of Character in 2024. Students are grouped into grade-level teaching teams, such as Team 6A or Team 8C, so a small group of teachers shares the same students. Alongside the core teams we have Encore, physical education and health, a self-contained special education team and a bilingual/ESL team. Positive Behavior Support sets our schoolwide expectations. We are a Title I school. Our counseling office, nurse's office and library media center support students during the day, and the district runs before and after school programs. Lakeside teams, nicknamed the Lightning, compete in field hockey, soccer and other interscholastic sports.

• Public middle school (6-8)
• AVID National Demonstration School
• School of Character
• Public school

The Child Family Center opened in 2005 as Millville Public Schools' preschool, and today about 560 three- and four-year-olds attend our PK-3 and PK-4 programs. Our student-teacher ratio is 14 to 1, and many children learn in multi-age classrooms with names like Cheetah House, Moose House and The Pollinators. The building has four indoor gross motor rooms plus playgrounds, and our curriculum centers on play-based learning, physical development and social-emotional growth. For 17 years we have also served as an early childhood training site for new educators. Our special services team includes resource teachers, an intervention team, Child Study Team case managers, social workers, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist and speech therapists, so young children with IEPs are served right here. A wrap-around program extends the day for working families, and we host at least one family event each month, in keeping with our goal of a family-focused preschool.

• Public preschool (PK-3 and PK-4)
• Play-based learning
• Multi-age classrooms
• Public school

Millville High School is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for a diverse range of students, including those with unique learning needs. Serving students from grades 9 through 12, the school is committed to empowering individuals with language-based learning disabilities and those who are twice-exceptional, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to thrive academically and socially. The school employs a comprehensive approach that integrates 19 Advanced Placement courses, 45 Career and Technical Education programs, and 17 dual credit classes, all designed to cater to varied learning styles and interests. With a notable student-teacher ratio of 11:1, Millville High School emphasizes personalized attention, allowing educators to tailor their teaching strategies to meet each student's specific requirements. Additionally, the school has been recognized as an Emerging School of Character and has consistently earned accolades for its commitment to music education. This focus on character development, combined with strong family partnerships and community engagement events, sets Millville High School apart as a nurturing educational environment where students can flourish both academically and personally.

• High school
• Learning differences
• Twice-exceptional
• Private school

At Millville Public Charter School, drama is more than an extracurricular activity: students use it to explore academic subjects. The tuition-free public K–8 program pairs New Jersey curriculum standards with national arts standards and brings performing and visual arts into everyday learning. Teachers use collaboration, small and large groups, and active participation to build critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving. The school places particular emphasis on early intervention for children ages five to eight and works with families to support their progress. Through drama, students practice self-control, listen to others' ideas, and find ways to contribute to a shared performance while they develop their academic skills.

• School
• Public school

Mount Pleasant Elementary opened in 1954 and today serves about 250 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Millville. We are the Panthers. With two classes at each grade level, our size lets teachers coordinate closely, and our student-to-teacher ratio is 12 to 1. Our curriculum includes art, band, chorus, general music, Spanish, library, physical education and health, plus basic skills instruction, speech, guidance and a Gifted and Talented program. Every student works on a school Chromebook through our 1:1 program. Club 21, our 21st Century after-school program, adds enrichment for fourth and fifth graders. Students build leadership as safety patrol members, on student council and as school helpers. Each year brings the Fall Frolic, a variety show, Pizza Bingo and Student Appreciation Day, and we have been named an Emerging School of Character.

• Public elementary school
• Small school
• Public school

R.M. Bacon Elementary opened in 1929 on South Third Street in Millville, first serving kindergarten through eighth grade and later operating as a junior high in the 1950s. Since the 1970s we have been a K-5 elementary school. Today about 250 students attend, with a 10:1 student-teacher ratio and a 1:1 Chromebook program. Reading anchors our identity through our yearly theme, "We are BEARS: Be Excited About Reading in School." Bacon was recognized as a School of Character in 2022. Our school counselor provides individual and small-group counseling on topics such as social skills and anti-bullying, along with classroom lessons on character and study strategies. Students rotate through encore classes during the week. After the bell, they can join our 21st Century after school program and two seasons of intramurals, and Millville Public Schools runs Latchkey before and after school care. District special education services and a gifted and talented program are available to our students.

• Public elementary school (K-5)
• Reading focus
• Character education
• Small class sizes

Silver Run Elementary opened in 1992 and now serves about 450 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in the Millville Public Schools. Our student-teacher ratio is 10:1, every student has a Chromebook through our 1:1 program, and we were the first elementary school in the district to offer a STEAM program. Special education is a large part of our building. We run self-contained autism classrooms across grades K through 5, a self-contained class for students with behavioral disabilities in grades 1 and 2, resource room and autism support teachers for K-5, and a Response to Intervention team for students who need extra help. Two school social workers lead individual and group counseling plus classroom lessons on anti-bullying, character education and study habits. Second Step social-emotional lessons are taught at every grade level, and positive behavior support runs schoolwide. Our 21st Century after-school program gives families an option once classes end, and Title I resources support students and families.

• Public elementary school
• Autism
• Emotional/behavioral support
• STEAM program