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Best Special Needs Schools in Queens, New York (2026)

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

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School listings in Queens

1

Lexington School for the Deaf - Queens

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Queens, NYGrades PreK-12

Lexington School for the Deaf is a state-supported 4201 school in East Elmhurst, Queens. Students attend without a family tuition bill; the home school district pays. Admission requires a severe or profound hearing loss and approval by the New York State Education Department. Students must live in one of the five New York City boroughs or Nassau County. The campus offers Ready to Learn for ages 0 to 3, preschool, elementary, middle, and high school, plus an Alternate Achievement Pathway and career and transition services. Support includes audiology, speech, occupational and physical therapy, ASL and English interpreting, and a family resource program. A dorm program is also available.

  • New York 4201 approved school for the deaf
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Speech therapy
  • Communication Disorder
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Nearby school options

Compare special-needs schools near Queens

Families often compare nearby cities when commute, availability, services, or age fit differ.

Special-needs schools in Floral Park Compare 3 programs about 5 miles away. Special-needs schools in Jamaica Compare 3 programs about 6 miles away. Special-needs schools in Long Island City Compare 3 programs about 8 miles away.
Browse all special-needs schools in New York →

Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Queens

Use these guides before you contact programs, schedule tours, or ask your IEP team how a proposed setting will support your child's goals.

NY OPWDD services guide

OPWDD eligibility, the Front Door, care managers, and planning the move from school to adult services at 21.

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 Queens

Queens families work with NYC Public Schools, which splits the borough between two special education regions. CSE/CPSE 3 covers Districts 25, 26, 28 and 29 from offices in Flushing and Jamaica. CSE/CPSE 4 covers Districts 24, 27 and 30 from Long Island City and Ozone Park. Find your district number first, then contact the matching office.

The Jamaica office at 90-27 Sutphin Boulevard answers at 718-557-2724, and the Long Island City office at 28-11 Queens Plaza North answers at 718-391-8405. Preschool referrals go to the CPSE for the area where you live. Public school students are referred through their school, while students in private, religious or charter schools, homeschooled students and children not in school go straight to the CSE. Offices are open weekdays from 8am to 4pm for hand-delivered referrals.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Queens

Which Queens office handles my child's referral?
It depends on your district number and your child's age. Preschoolers are assigned by home address. School-age students are assigned by the school they attend, unless they are homeschooled, out of school or attend school outside the city. Use the city's GOAT address tool, Function 1B, to find your district.
Who handles special education for Queens students in charter or private schools?
The Committee on Special Education does. NYC's CSEs coordinate special education for students in private, religious, charter and state-approved nonpublic schools, along with homeschooled students and children not attending school. Send the written referral to the CSE for your area, not to the school. Include your child's legal name, date of birth and current school.
What deadline matters for Queens families paying for private school?
June 1. If you place your child in a private or religious school at your own expense and want city special education services, file a Parental Notice of Intent each year by June 1. It goes to the CSE where the school is located. The CSE then decides eligibility for an Individualized Education Services Plan.
Can a Queens IEP team recommend a state-approved private school?
Yes, when the team finds public options cannot meet your child's needs. New York requires the placement to be arranged within 30 school days after the board receives the recommendation. A family that chooses a private school on its own pays its own tuition. Our IEP guide explains placement decisions.

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