Top 6 Best Special Needs Schools in Maryville, Tennessee (2026)

Mary Blount Elementary School is dedicated to nurturing and empowering students with special needs, focusing on those aged 5 to 11 who may have language-based learning disabilities or are identified as twice-exceptional. The school's core mission is to create an inclusive environment where each child can thrive academically and socially. Utilizing a holistic approach, Mary Blount offers specialized programs that incorporate therapeutic methodologies tailored to individual learning styles. This includes speech therapy, occupational therapy, and personalized learning plans designed to address unique challenges. What sets Mary Blount apart is its commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio, ensuring that each child receives the attention and support they need. Additionally, the school fosters strong partnerships with families, recognizing the vital role parents play in their children's education. With specialized facilities designed for sensory integration and community events that promote engagement and awareness, Mary Blount Elementary School stands out as a beacon of hope and support for families navigating the complexities of special education.

• Elementary school
• Public school

Clayton-Bradley Academy is an independent PreK through 12th grade STEM school in Maryville, Tennessee, opened in 2013 by parents and educators who set out to design a different kind of school. It runs year-round and is built on creative project-based learning, being-there experiences, and real-world application rather than individual desks and stacks of textbooks. Science, technology, engineering, and math are deliberately integrated across subjects, and teachers write their own curriculum and plan collaboratively. Social and emotional learning is embedded in the culture, alongside the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS taught and modeled across campus. Students in the Greenpower Racing team built and raced their own electric car, repaired a snapped axle at Nationals, and still placed fifth in the country.

• School
• Private school

Coulter Grove Intermediate serves Maryville students in the intermediate grades and has a Special Services team within the school. Students can access special education support and related services, including speech-language services, as part of their school program. The campus also has school counselors who remain with groups of grade levels as students move through the school.

• School
• Public school

Foothills Elementary sits near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and our building, opened in 1995, looks out on the mountains and connects to Maryville's Greenbelt parkway. As part of Maryville City Schools, we serve more than 600 students in integrated pre-K through third grade in the West Maryville area. Our classrooms are organized in suites and grade-level wings so teachers and students within a grade work closely together. We use a special education inclusion model, offer Response to Intervention (RTI), and follow the state curriculum frameworks in every subject. Our motto is "Personal Best, Nothing Less!" Parent volunteers serve throughout the building, and our Family Teacher Organization runs the annual Raccoon Romp walk-a-thon. The Maryville City Schools Foundation, created by local business leaders, funds mini-grants for teacher projects.

• Public elementary school (Pre-K-3)
• Inclusion classrooms
• Response to Intervention (RTI)
• Public school

Friends of Tennessee's Babies with Special Needs is a compassionate organization dedicated to enhancing the potential of infants and young children with disabilities, serving families in 16 counties. Focused on children from birth to age five, the organization addresses a range of special needs, including developmental delays and physical disabilities. Through a comprehensive array of support services, Friends connects families with vital resources such as respite care, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology, ensuring that both children and their caregivers receive the assistance they need. The commitment to community is evident in their impactful programs, which have served over 800 children and provided essential items like hearing aids, weighted blankets, and childcare supplies. What sets Friends apart is its strong emphasis on family partnerships and community engagement; with numerous events throughout the year, the organization fosters connections among families while raising critical funds for ongoing support. With a dedicated team of volunteers and an unwavering mission to provide immediate assistance to those in need, Friends of Tennessee's Babies with Special Needs stands out as a beacon of hope for families navigating the challenges of raising children with special needs.

• Association / Organization

Built in 1968 and named by the Maryville City Council, John Sevier Elementary was among the first Tennessee schools to offer state-supported kindergarten. Today we serve Pre-K through 3rd grade in Maryville City Schools. We were named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2022 and have been a Tennessee Reward School for achievement and growth in many years since 2001. Our integrated Pre-K classroom brings together Voluntary Pre-K students, tuition peer models and children with disabilities. A teacher dual-licensed in special education and early childhood leads the class with two education assistants, and the work centers on problem solving, verbal expression, peer engagement and independence. The district's Early Intervention Center, based at our school, provides special education services for children with identified needs starting at age 3. Students also see specialists in STEM, art, creative expressions, physical education and library, and our school counselor works with students and families. After school, children can join Lego, running and gardening clubs. We also run a Family Resource Center, and our PTO is active in school life.

• Public elementary school (PreK-3)
• Integrated Pre-K
• STEM
• Public school