Top 9 Best Special Needs Schools in Nashville, Tennessee (2026)

At Benton Hall Academy in Nashville, we serve students with learning differences in grades 3 through 12. We tailor instruction to each student and use non-traditional learning opportunities to support academic, social, behavioral, and emotional growth. Our program helps students prepare for what comes next, including transitions to higher education or the workplace. Families exploring specialized education can review our admissions information and speak with the school about whether Benton Hall is a suitable setting for their student.

• Special education school
• Learning differences
• Private school
• Elementary

We are a special day school for students whose learning differences require more support than a less restrictive setting can provide. Our standards-based programs are individualized and differentiated around each student’s strengths and interests. K–8 students study English language arts, math, science, and social studies, with rotating related-arts classes in art, computer science or library, music, and physical education. Some split time between Cora Howe and their zoned school. Older students rotate through six classes; some take part in work-based learning with community partners or split time with their zoned school.

• High school
• Kindergarten
• Elementary School
• Middle School

We are a nonprofit therapeutic day school serving grades 1–12. Our individualized program supports students with emotional, psychiatric, learning, intellectual, and developmental needs, including autism and dual diagnoses. Counseling, social work, behavior support, and transition-readiness instruction are part of the school program.

• Special education school
• Behavioral challenges
• Developmental challenges
• Emotional challenges

At Harris-Hillman School, we serve Davidson County students ages 3–22 through three programs shaped around individual learning needs. Our Harris-Hillman Program supports students with multiple and complex disabilities through individualized instruction, a modified curriculum, adapted learning environments, assistive technology, and a tangible core communication system. Students also take part in art, computer lab, music, physical education, community-based training, field trips, communication and language therapies, physical and occupational therapies, and vision and hearing services. These supports make learning accessible across classroom activities, communication, movement, and experiences beyond campus. Our two inclusive pre-kindergarten classrooms serve children ages 3 and 4 with a range of instructional needs, alongside some neurotypical classmates. For students who have completed high school with an Alternate Academic Diploma, our Community-Based Transition Program builds skills for independent living, employment, and postsecondary education or training through learning in community settings. Students practice skills where they will use them and work toward greater participation and independence. Students join the Harris-Hillman Program and Community-Based Transition Program through their IEP team rather than through typical school enrollment. Families who want to explore whether our setting may fit their student can begin with the student’s current teacher or case manager, who can discuss needs and placement with the IEP team. Our school day runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. We are a public school serving Davidson County within Metro Nashville Public Schools.

• Special education school
• Private school

We teach students in grades 1 through 12 at High Road School of Nashville. Our private day school uses smaller, structured classrooms and instruction aligned with each student's strengths and IEP goals. We work with Metro Nashville Public Schools and surrounding districts to support students with emotional and learning disabilities. Our Nashville program includes occupational therapy, social work, speech-language therapy, a mental health cooperative and vocational rehabilitation. Staff use SESI's Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to address academic, behavioral and emotional needs. Teachers, therapists, families and district partners work together on students' plans. Enrollment starts with a school district referral based on the student's IEP. Extended School Year is available when the IEP team determines continued instruction is needed. Our school day runs Monday through Friday from 6:50 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 297 Plus Park Boulevard.

• Private educational institution
• Emotional disabilities
• Learning differences
• Private school

Our Bordeaux early learning center serves children in three- and four-year-old classrooms. Children learn through a constructivist approach that emphasizes active exploration, materials, and relationships. Daily routines include read-alouds, songs, movement, choice centers, small-group work, and indoor and outdoor play. Four-year-olds also work on early literacy and math and practice social problem-solving and emotional skills through Second Step and Pyramid Model resources. Children in both age groups take weekly art, library, and school-counseling lessons.

• Preschool

Functional vision assessment and screenings in speech and language, classroom skills, physical therapy and occupational therapy form our summer preschool evaluation program at Tennessee School for the Blind. We offer it to children ages three to five who are blind or have low vision, including children with additional disabilities. Families participate in training about blindness and low vision while the program develops an understanding of their child's needs. Our Nashville public state school provides education free of charge to eligible Tennessee students ages three through 21, from preschool through twelfth grade. Students can attend during the day or through our on-campus residential program. A local IEP team can refer a student when their Individualized Education Program establishes visual impairment eligibility. Our admissions team then reviews educational records, vision assessments and related service evaluations to determine eligibility, working with the family and local school district. Residential placement has its own separate review of independence, support and behavioral criteria. Summer learning camps extend regular school learning for our rising kindergarten through ninth-grade students. They serve a different group from the young children participating in our preschool evaluation and family training. During camp, students practice academic skills and take part in arts and movement activities. Outdoor activities and field trips accompany that academic practice.

• School
• Visual-impairment
• Public school

Tennessee School for the Deaf Nashville is a state-operated campus at 115 Stewarts Ferry Pike in Nashville. It serves deaf and hard of hearing students from early childhood through grade 5. Instruction is bilingual in American Sign Language and English. Related arts include ASL Rhythm, physical education, art, and social emotional learning. Additional supports are set by the IEP team. The campus shares the Stewarts Ferry Pike address with Tennessee School for the Blind. The Knoxville and Jackson campuses are separate schools.

• State-operated school
• Deaf
• Hard of hearing
• Early childhood through grade 5

At our Donelson campus, we offer year-round full- and part-time early education for children from six weeks through age five. Our research-based curriculum is complemented by music, gymnastics, and soccer enrichment; Camp Gardner provides a summer program.

• Preschool