Best Special Needs Schools in Springfield, Ohio (2026)

Clark County Educational Service Center supports local school districts as they deliver educational services. Our Student Services team partners with districts to connect students with specialized support for academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs, in and out of the classroom. Services include English language learning and gifted support, G.R.A.D.S. (Graduation, Reality, and Dual-Role Skills), mental health and crisis management, occupational and physical therapy, psychology, sign-language interpretation, and speech therapy. Our professionals work alongside educators and families to remove barriers, build skills, and create positive learning environments. We also support the educators and systems that serve students. Professional services include curriculum supervision, paraprofessional assessment, parent mentoring, and application management. The ESC’s Instructional Services department helps districts with curriculum development, school improvement, and professional learning; its specialists provide professional development throughout the year and serve more than 3,000 educators annually. The Clark Education Center also operates specialized classrooms for students with autism and students who need additional behavioral support, and the ESC provides preschool services across multiple districts. Our mission is to support excellence in the delivery of educational services. Visit us at 4170 Allium Court in Springfield, Ohio.

• Educational service agency
• Public school

Nightingale Montessori is a fully-licensed independent non-profit charter school that has been reimagining education since 1978, serving students from toddlers to grade 12. Guided by the principles of Maria Montessori, the school is dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of Springfield families through an educational approach that honors the unique worth of every child. With a focus on fostering self-motivation, reverence for life, and self-discipline, Nightingale cultivates an environment where students can explore their creative and intellectual potential. The school offers a range of innovative programs, including a Farm to Table Curriculum and Sound Shapes Early Reading Program, designed to support developmental growth across various age groups. The versatile multi-pod architectural design of its spacious facility in North Springfield enhances the learning experience with lofty ceilings, abundant natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows, and sweeping views of a 10-acre woodland campus. Nightingale Montessori's commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio and strong family partnerships further distinguishes it as a nurturing community focused on empowering students to thrive academically and socially.

• Montessori school
• Private school

Ridgewood School opened in 1919 as "The Little School in the Woods," and the Ohio legislature has recognized us as the state's oldest co-educational independent day school. Since 1962 we have been on a five-acre campus on Saint Paris Pike in Springfield with a wooded land lab, playground, learning garden and outdoor theater space. We teach preschool through 8th grade, and classes are capped at 18 students. Our Jane P.B. and Peter Hollenbeck Preschool, opened in 2018, runs five days a week with half-day and full-day options. Every grade takes art and music twice a week, and Spanish starts in kindergarten. Our STEM program has earned the Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education, and qualified students take accelerated Geometry for high school credit with Springfield High School. Grades 4 to 8 stage a musical each year, band starts in 5th grade, and students join Science Club, Makerspace, Power of the Pen, Student Council and intramural sports. K-8 tuition for 2026-27 is $9,200, families may qualify for Ohio EdChoice scholarships or financial aid, and Extended Day care covers the hours before and after school.

• Independent day school (PreK-8)
• STEM
• College preparatory
• Spanish from kindergarten