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

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

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School listings in Tonawanda

Northtowns Academy building entrance with the academy sign and students gathered outside.
1

BOCES Northtowns Academy

Listed
Tonawanda, NYGrades K-8

At Northtowns Academy, we provide a highly structured program for students with developmental disabilities in kindergarten through grade 8. Our 6:1+1 classes pair tailored academic instruction with support for social-emotional needs. Students build social skills and practice behavioral strategies in a self-contained setting designed to reduce transitions. Restorative practices, student-focused behavior management, and an on-site social worker support each student's access to learning. Related services are available to strengthen the skills students need to take part in instruction; these include speech-language therapy, physical and occupational therapy, hearing services, itinerant vision services, counseling, and audiology. We set goals for increased socialization and attendance, fewer disciplinary referrals, and progress toward a less restrictive setting when appropriate. Our team works with each student around these goals in the academy's Tonawanda school community, at 333 Dexter Terrace. We want students to develop the academic and interpersonal skills that help them participate more fully in school and prepare for their next learning environment.

  • Public special education school
  • Developmental disabilities
  • Public school
  • Elementary (K-5)
View details
2

Kenton Career & Tech Center

Listed
Tonawanda, NYGrades 9-12

Kenton Career and Technical Education Center in Tonawanda is one of the four career and technical centers run by Erie 1 BOCES, which serves 19 school districts in Western New York. Together our centers offer more than 25 programs to high school students. Juniors and seniors enroll in one-year or two-year programs, and sophomores can take part in career exploration. Most students earn 3.75 credits per year, with academic credit available, and they can finish high school with college credits, technical experience and industry certifications. Classes are taught by NYS-certified industry experts, and students compete in SkillsUSA and take internships. In our Health Careers program, students earn Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, and students have interned with the Town of Tonawanda Paramedics.

  • Public career and technical education center
  • Career and technical education
  • Health careers
  • Industry certifications
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Nearby school options

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Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Tonawanda

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 Tonawanda

Tonawanda is two places for school purposes. The City of Tonawanda has its own Tonawanda City School District, with referrals sent to the Special Education Office at 100 Hinds Street. The Town of Tonawanda is home to a separate district, Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda (Ken-Ton) Union Free School District, whose special education office answers at 716-874-8400. Both appear on Erie 1 BOCES's component district list.

In the city district, the Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) review each referral and recommend services to the Board of Education. The district tries to serve students in district first, and when it cannot, it looks for an outside program as close to home as possible. Ken-Ton names a preschool committee chair and a director for out-of-district placements. Check your address with the right district before you write.

Local resources checked .

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Tonawanda

Where do I send a referral in the City of Tonawanda?
Mail or deliver it to the Special Education Office, Tonawanda City School District, 100 Hinds St., Tonawanda, NY 14150. Parents and school staff may both refer. The district contact for special education is listed at (716) 694-7684. Our guide to requesting an evaluation covers what to write.
I live in the Town of Tonawanda. Is that the same district?
Not necessarily. Ken-Ton UFSD, named for Kenmore and the Town of Tonawanda, is a separate district from the City of Tonawanda's schools. Ken-Ton's special education and student services office answers at 716-874-8400 on weekdays. Confirm by street address, since district lines and town lines do not always match.
What happens if a Tonawanda school cannot meet my child's needs?
The Tonawanda City district tries to serve students in district first. When it cannot meet a student's needs, the CSE looks for an outside program as close to home as possible, still as a free public education. Ken-Ton also has specialized programs in several schools and a director for out-of-district placements. The CSE, with you, makes that call.
How do Tonawanda preschoolers get evaluated?
Each district has its own Committee on Preschool Special Education for ages three to five. You refer your child to the CPSE chair, choose a state-approved evaluator, and sign consent. The evaluation costs nothing. Children leaving Early Intervention get help from their service coordinator with the referral.

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