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Best Special Needs Schools in Pendleton, Oregon (2026)

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

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School listings in Pendleton

Children working at a classroom table at L’il Angels Child Care
1

L'Il Angels Child Care & Pre

Listed
Pendleton, ORGrades PreK-5

Lil Angels is a nurturing daycare center dedicated to fostering joyful learning for children aged 2 ½ to 11 years. With a mission focused on creating a safe and happy environment, the center emphasizes the social, emotional, and physical development of each child. Recognizing that every child is unique, Lil Angels tailors its programs to meet individual needs and interests. The curriculum includes age-appropriate offerings such as a Before & After School Program for children in grades K-5, a specialized Just for 3's Preschool, and a Pre-Kindergarten program designed to prepare young learners for kindergarten. Each program encourages exploration, peer interaction, and the development of essential social skills within a supportive classroom setting. What sets Lil Angels apart is its commitment to maintaining a low child-to-teacher ratio of 1:10, ensuring personalized attention and quality care. Additionally, the center fosters strong family partnerships through open communication and flexibility in scheduling while providing nutritious meals and snacks tailored to various dietary needs. This comprehensive approach creates an enriching environment where children can thrive both academically and socially.

  • Preschool
  • Private school
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2

Pendleton High School

Listed
Pendleton, ORGrades 9-12

Pendleton High School, known as the home of the Buckaroos, is dedicated to fostering a positive and safe learning environment for all students, including those with diverse learning needs. Serving grades 9 through 12, the school embraces a mission centered on recognizing individual learning styles and providing tailored support to ensure that every student can thrive academically and personally. Pendleton High offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes advanced placement courses, dual credit options, and a variety of electives such as art, drama, engineering, and music. In addition to its strong academic offerings, the school promotes holistic development through competitive athletics, dance programs, leadership opportunities, and various clubs. To further support students' future aspirations, Pendleton High features an Aspire Center and a School to Careers program that assist with college applications and job readiness. With a low student-to-teacher ratio of 19:1 and an impressive 89% on-time graduation rate, the school stands out for its commitment to individualized education. Its alternative program and health center provide additional resources tailored to meet diverse student needs. The strong partnerships with families and community engagement initiatives enhance the educational experience at Pendleton High School, making it a unique place where every student is encouraged to reach their full potential.

  • High school
  • Public school
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Nearby school options

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Planning guides

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IEP process guide

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Comparing school options in Pendleton

Pendleton School District 16R serves the city from its office on NW 10th Street, running Pendleton Early Learning Center, McKay, Sherwood and Washington elementaries, Sunridge Middle School and Pendleton High School. InterMountain Education Service District (IMESD), headquartered on SW Nye Avenue, handles early intervention and preschool special education for Umatilla County.

This page lists Pendleton High School, the district's high school with 773 students in 2023-24, and Lil Angels Child Care & Preschool, which takes children from age two and a half through 11. The answers below cover autism, behavior, dyslexia, evaluations and costs.

Local resources checked .

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Pendleton

Are there private autism schools in Pendleton, Oregon?
Neither school on this page is a stand-alone autism school, and most autistic students in Pendleton learn through an IEP in a district building. Pendleton School District lists autism among the eligibility categories it serves for students ages 5 to 21. Behind the district stands IMESD, whose Eastern Oregon Regional Inclusive Services takes referrals for autism spectrum disorder and whose autism consultants coach school staff on behavior and communication supports. Ask your child's case manager whether a regional referral fits.
What special education support does Pendleton High School have?
Pendleton High School enrolled 773 students with 39 teachers in 2023-24, about 19.8 students per teacher (NCES). Federal civil rights data for 2021-22 counted 113 students with IEPs and 64 with Section 504 plans out of 848. The district also runs Hawthorne as a program of PHS, plus the Pendleton Virtual Learning Academy, a full-time online K-12 school taught by local licensed teachers in partnership with IMESD. PVLA students can still play sports and join activities.
Is there a behavioral school near Pendleton for kids who struggle in class?
Our Pendleton listings include no private therapeutic day school. Inside the district, emotional behavior disability is one of the categories that qualifies a student for special education, and the Special Programs department also oversees long term care and treatment programs. Start with an evaluation request. The IEP team then decides on the setting, from added support in a regular classroom to a more specialized placement, and you sit on that team.
How do I request a special education evaluation in Pendleton?
Write to the Special Programs department at the district office on NW 10th Street and keep a dated copy. Oregon rules give the district 60 school days from your written consent to the meeting that decides eligibility, with only limited, documented exceptions. For a Section 504 plan, the school's Child Development Specialist or counselor takes the referral. Unsure which fits? Ask for both in one letter.
My preschooler in Pendleton has delays. Who do I call?
Call InterMountain ESD. Its Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education program (EI/ECSE) serves children from birth to age 5 across Umatilla County at no cost to families, and Pendleton School District's Child Find notice points families of children under 5 to IMESD for screening, evaluation, diagnosis and programming. You can refer your own child through the ESD's EI/ECSE referral form. The district's eligibility list also includes developmental delay for children ages 3 through 9.
How do Pendleton schools handle dyslexia and ADHD?
Oregon law (ORS 326.726) requires every district to screen each student for risk factors of dyslexia in kindergarten, or in first grade for children who first enroll then, and to keep at least one dyslexia-trained teacher in every K-5 school. McKay, Sherwood and Washington all fall under that rule. When screening or classroom work raises concerns, dyslexia can qualify a child as having a specific learning disability, and ADHD usually falls under other health impairment. Both categories appear on the district's list.
What does school cost in Pendleton, public or private?
District schools, including the PVLA online program, charge no tuition. Lil Angels Child Care & Preschool is private. It runs a Just for 3s preschool class, a Pre-Kindergarten class and before- and after-school care for kindergarten through fifth grade, with meals made on site and transportation to local schools. Private programs set their own rates, so ask for the current fee sheet. Oregon special education rules still require the public system to find and evaluate children with disabilities who attend private schools.
What should I ask a Pendleton school before enrolling?
The district describes its model as inclusive services delivered alongside general education, so ask how many minutes a day your child would spend outside the regular classroom and whether district staff or IMESD specialists provide speech, occupational therapy and behavior support. For grades 1 to 5, check the district boundary map first, because attendance follows area boundaries. At Lil Angels, ask how staff carry out goals from an IMESD early childhood plan.

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