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

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

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School listings in Yonkers

1

Orchard School - Yonkers

Listed
Yonkers, NYGrades K-88 students with at least two staff ratio

The Orchard School sits on the Andrus campus at 1156 North Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701, on the hillside of a former apple orchard. More than 100 students ages 5 to 16 in grades K-9 attend. Most are referred by their local school districts. Residential and day students learn in the same classrooms. Classes average eight students with at least two staff. Reading, writing, and math are individualized. The school uses Smart Boards, a Direct Instruction reading program, a scripted math program, FOSS and inquiry science, and New York State testing. Classroom management uses PBIS and CHAMPS, with sensory rooms available. Clinical services for day and residential students include weekly individual, group, and family sessions. The STARS Building serves grades 6-9 for students on the autism spectrum. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School three times by the U.S. Department of Education.

  • Therapeutic day and residential special education school
  • Emotional/Behavioral Disability
  • Autism
  • Accredited
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Nearby school options

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Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Yonkers

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 Yonkers

Yonkers Public Schools takes special education referrals at its Committee on Special Education, One Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701, where the Special Education Department is also located. A parent referral must be in writing and carry your original signature. The district runs committees for both preschool and school-age children and offers programs from related services up to special class settings.

Yonkers asks families to talk with teachers first and use general education supports such as counseling and academic intervention. If those do not help, you can refer to the Committee on Special Education or the Committee on Preschool Special Education. Teachers, principals and the Student Services Support Team can also refer. For children ages three to five, Westchester County's Preschool Special Educational Program pays for services the committee recommends, at no cost to families.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Yonkers

What must a Yonkers referral letter include?
Address it to the Committee on Special Education and include your child's name, current school and grade, date of birth, and a daytime phone number. Sign it with your original signature. Mail it to One Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701. Keep a copy with the date you sent it.
Should I try classroom supports before a referral in Yonkers?
Yonkers suggests talking with teachers first and using supports like counseling, academic intervention and instructional changes. You do not have to wait if you suspect a disability, though. You can send a written referral at any time. Our 504 versus IEP guide helps you decide what to ask for.
What happens after the Yonkers committee gets my consent?
New York requires the initial evaluation to finish within 60 days of your consent. The committee then meets with you to decide eligibility and write an IEP if your child qualifies. Services must be in place within 60 school days of consent. Our IEP guide explains the meeting.
Who pays for preschool special education in Yonkers?
Westchester County's Health Department, through its Preschool Special Educational Program, pays for services that a district preschool committee recommends for eligible children ages three to five. Families pay nothing. The county's Bureau of Children with Special Needs answers questions at (914) 813-5080 or (914) 813-5090.

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