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Best Special Needs Schools in Delaware, Ohio (2026)

Compare 3 special needs schools in Delaware. Explore the ranked list and find a program that feels right for your child.

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School listings in Delaware

Delaware Christian School entrance and campus exterior
1

Delaware Christian School

Listed
Delaware, OHGrades PreK-12

Delaware Christian School is dedicated to nurturing students from Pre-K through 12th grade, focusing on academic excellence and spiritual growth rooted in Christ-centered education. The school serves a diverse range of students, including those with specific learning needs, and is committed to fostering an environment where every child can thrive. Delaware Christian School employs innovative educational programs that emphasize critical thinking and lifelong learning, integrating faith into the curriculum to prepare students for both academic success and moral character. In addition to a robust academic framework, the school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics such as volleyball, soccer, and basketball, as well as arts programs encompassing drama, music, and visual arts. What sets Delaware Christian School apart is its unwavering commitment to individual attention through small class sizes and a strong partnership with families. This collaborative approach ensures that each student receives personalized support tailored to their unique needs, creating a nurturing community where children are encouraged to explore their potential in a supportive atmosphere.

  • Middle school
  • Private school
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After Schoolers in our 4th and 5th grade group!
2

Delaware's Best After School Program - Empower Sports and Camps

Listed
Delaware, OHGrades K-5

Empower Sports and Camps offers a premier after-school program in Delaware, Ohio, designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The school's core mission is to foster a fun, safe, and enriching environment where children can thrive socially, academically, and emotionally. With a focus on inclusivity and individual growth, the program serves students from local schools such as Schultz, Carlisle, Smith, and BV West. Each week, children participate in a diverse range of activities that include indoor sports, educational lessons, arts and crafts, and leadership development opportunities. The program emphasizes the importance of physical activity and teamwork while providing a supportive atmosphere that encourages personal achievement. Safety is paramount; all coaches are highly qualified professionals who have undergone comprehensive background checks to ensure the well-being of every child. What sets Empower Sports and Camps apart is its commitment to maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio, allowing for personalized attention and strong family partnerships. The program also offers full-day camp options during school closures and an engaging summer camp experience. By creating memorable community events and fostering lasting relationships among families, Empower Sports and Camps stands out as a trusted choice for parents seeking an exceptional after-school experience for their children.

  • After school program
  • Private school
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3

Dempsey Middle School

Listed
Delaware, OHGrades 6-8Tuition-free

Dempsey Middle School opened in 2000 on the John C. Dempsey Education Campus, which also holds outdoor athletic fields, recreation areas and wetlands. About 1,200 sixth, seventh and eighth graders attend, and the building doubles as an after-school activity center for the Delaware community. Our language arts classes use a workshop model that pairs student choice in reading with demanding writing assignments. Seventh graders can take 7th grade math, Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1, and eighth graders choose from Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and Geometry. Qualified students can add Advanced Science in grade 7, Physical Science in grade 8, and French I or Spanish I in grade 8. Related Arts include band, orchestra, chorus, technology education, consumer science and leadership, health, physical education and art. We compete in the Ohio Capital Conference in football, cross country, golf, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track, baseball, softball and club lacrosse. After school, students join Dempsey Singers, the Dempsey Players drama club, student council, newspaper and yearbook. We are part of Delaware City Schools.

  • Public middle school (grades 6-8)
  • Accelerated math
  • Performing arts
  • Public school
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Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Delaware

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

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 Delaware

Delaware City Schools runs free developmental screenings, called Child Checks, for children ages 3 to 5 whose families have a significant concern about communication, thinking, language, social-emotional skills, behavior, motor, or self-care skills. Child Checks take place on set mornings through the school year, from August through April. A parent stays on site for the screening, which lasts about 20 minutes.

The district's preschool is located at Woodward Elementary School, 200 S. Washington Street. A Child Check can include a family history questionnaire, a developmental history, and screening by an intervention specialist, plus speech, occupational, or physical therapy screening when needed. A screening result does not guarantee a place in the district's special needs preschool. For school-age students, the district asks families to read its Child Find information and then contact the special education supervisor for their child's school, who explains the evaluation steps. The process costs families nothing.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Delaware

How do I book a Child Check in Delaware?
Call the preschool special education supervisor listed on the district's Child Check page. During that call, staff collect information about your child and your concerns to open a Child Check file, and then you choose a morning appointment. The district's special needs preschool staff run the screenings. Bring short notes about what you see at home so the team hears the full picture.
Can I screen my child at home first?
Yes. Delaware City Schools points Ohio families to free online Ages and Stages Questionnaires through Help Me Grow for children from birth to age 5. After you finish one, a Help Me Grow screening specialist calls to discuss the results and can refer you to early intervention, home visiting, or preschool special education. For a child under 3, see our early intervention guide.
What happens after the district decides to evaluate?
You meet with the school to plan the evaluation and give written consent. Ohio then gives the district 60 days to finish the evaluation and decide eligibility, and you receive a copy of the evaluation report. If your child qualifies, the IEP must be written within 30 days, and you help write it. If the team says your child is not eligible, it must explain why in writing. Our IEP guide covers the plan.
What is Ohio's Autism Scholarship?
It lets parents of a child with autism choose a special education program other than the one run by the district of residence, to receive the services in the child's IEP or Autism Education Plan. A child can apply after turning 3. Qualifying takes a district IEP for autism, or a private autism diagnosis reflected in a plan the district writes. Families enroll with a participating provider first.

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