Best Special Needs Schools in Plano, Texas (2026)

Foundation School for Autism - Plano is a dedicated educational institution designed specifically for young children on the autism spectrum, serving grades PreK-1. With a strong emphasis on early intervention, the school recognizes that providing support before the age of six can significantly alter a child’s developmental trajectory. The curriculum is tailored to meet individual needs through personalized education plans that focus on enhancing learning readiness, independent work skills, and academic achievement. Students benefit from a small learning environment equipped with essential resources and specialized staff who deliver intensive programs, including speech and occupational therapy. Additionally, the school prioritizes teaching socio-emotive skills to help students navigate social interactions that may pose challenges. A unique aspect of Foundation School for Autism - Plano is its commitment to fostering strong partnerships with families by offering training and resources that empower parents in their child’s educational journey. This holistic approach, combined with specialized facilities and community events, sets the school apart as a nurturing and effective learning environment for children with autism.

• Kindergarten
• Autism
• Private school

Great Lakes Academy is an accredited non-profit private school in Plano, Texas, serving 4th through 12th graders who are intellectually capable but need a different kind of classroom to thrive. Class sizes stay small — around 10 students per group in grades 4–8 and 12 in grades 9–12 — so teachers can give each student real, individualized attention. The program is college preparatory by design, and the school specializes in supporting students with learning differences, anxiety, ADHD, and ASD Level 1 (formerly known as Asperger’s). Families find a community where differences are treated as part of who a student is, not something to fix.

• High school
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Autism

St. Timothy Christian Academy opened on August 9, 2006, the realization of a 20-year dream for Dr. Paul Warren, a behavioral pediatrician who wanted a Plano school where children with learning differences could succeed. Today we teach kindergarten through 12th grade on the campus of Prestonwood Baptist Church. Our certified teachers use multi-sensory instruction in every core class, re-teach when needed and pace work to each student's level while following the Texas TEKS standards. Speech and dyslexia therapists work on staff, and Alphabetic Phonics gives struggling readers an intensive remedial method. Students also take adapted physical education, daily Bible, art and music enrichment, social skills training and job skills training. Each day includes instruction in our iMac lab, and every student has an iPad for class. Peer interns from Prestonwood Christian Academy model social skills in daily interaction. Tuition for 2026-27 is $27,550 for grades K to 5 and $28,100 for grades 6 to 12. We offer limited need-based tuition assistance through FACTS and participate in the Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program. Admission includes a three to five-day classroom visit.

• Private Christian school for students with learning differences (K-12)
• Learning differences
• Dyslexia
• Sensory support