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Best Special Needs Schools in Richardson, Texas (2026)

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

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School listings in Richardson

Adolescent student using microscope in lab classroom
1

Bridge Builder Academy

Listed
Richardson, TXAges 5-12

Plenty of capable students fall through the cracks in a one-size-fits-all classroom. At Bridge Builder Academy in Richardson, we do the opposite of one-size-fits-all. We teach one student at a time. Our fully customized, one-on-one model is built for learners with autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory, language, and visual processing differences, and memory challenges, as well as gifted and twice-exceptional kids. Because every student works with a certified special education teacher one-on-one, we have real flexibility in what we teach, how we teach it, and when. Learning can happen on our campus, in your home, at a local library, or online, which makes us a good fit for families balancing athletics, performing arts, frequent travel, or medical needs. Our gifted students get challenging, individually paced, STEM-focused work. Beyond full-time enrollment, we offer homeschool assistance, after-school support, enrichment, educational consultation, and academic assessment. Getting started is simple: an information meeting, an assessment, a personalized plan, and then the first day of class. We are accredited through Cognia, because we believe every student can learn, just not always on the same day or in the same way.

  • Special education school
  • Autism
  • Dyslexia
  • Dysgraphia
View details
Photo from Chase's Place
2

Chase's Place

Listed
Richardson, TX

Chase's Place is a private non-profit school located in Richardson, Texas, dedicated to serving children and adults with moderate to severe developmental disabilities, including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injuries, and various neurological disorders. The core mission of Chase's Place is to provide a nurturing and supportive environment that fosters individual growth and development, ensuring that each student reaches their full potential. Key offerings at Chase's Place include a range of individualized programs tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. These programs encompass essential therapeutic services such as Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Recreational Therapy. Additionally, the curriculum emphasizes holistic skill development, focusing on traditional academics alongside social skills, self-help skills, functional living skills, and community engagement. Students benefit from a 2:1 student-to-teacher ratio, allowing for personalized attention and support. What sets Chase's Place apart is its commitment to community involvement and peer learning. Students regularly participate in outings to local venues, such as restaurants, libraries, and recreational centers, which help them apply their skills in real-world settings. The school features state-of-the-art facilities, including specialized classrooms, therapy rooms, and motor-skills therapy areas, all designed to cater to the diverse needs of its students. The dedicated staff, trained to work with children facing various challenges, collaborates closely with families to ensure a seamless transfer of skills from school to home, fostering a comprehensive support system for each child.

  • Special education school
  • Autism
  • Cerebral palsy
  • neurological disorders
View details

Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Richardson

Use these guides before you contact programs, schedule tours, or ask your IEP team how a proposed setting will support your child's goals.

Texas Education Freedom Accounts guide

How TEFA works for students with disabilities, approved expenses, and preparing for the next application window.

How to choose a special needs school

Prepare school-tour questions, compare supports and family communication, and record what each program can show you.

IEP process guide

Bring your IEP, progress evidence, and focused questions to conversations about evaluations, services, or placement.

Also Looking for ABA Therapy?

Find ABA therapy centers in Richardson, Texas. Many families use both specialized schools and therapy services to support their child's development.

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Comparing school options in Richardson

Richardson has two private special education options on this page: Chase's Place, a nonprofit school inside the Promenade Center on North Coit Road for students with moderate to severe developmental disabilities, and Bridge Builder Academy on West Campbell Road, which teaches students one on one. Richardson ISD and Plano ISD both run schools with Richardson addresses, and Aldridge Elementary, in the Collin County part of the city, is a Plano ISD campus.

Below, compare these two private schools, see how Richardson ISD Child Find reaches private school and homeschool students, and learn how Texas Education Freedom Accounts help pay tuition.

Local resources checked .

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Richardson

What private special education schools are in Richardson, TX?
Chase's Place and Bridge Builder Academy serve very different students. Chase's Place enrolls children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other developmental disabilities, including students who are nonverbal or not yet toilet trained. Bridge Builder Academy, accredited by Cognia, serves students with autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and processing disorders, plus gifted and twice exceptional learners. Each sets its own tuition.
What is a school day like at Chase's Place?
Chase's Place keeps a 2 to 1 student to staff ratio and classes of 4 to 6 students. Speech, occupational, physical and recreational therapy are part of each student's program, alongside academics, self-help, functional living and community skills. Students head out to restaurants, the library, the post office and the YMCA to practice those skills. Federal private school data for 2021-22 counted 17 students and about 3.3 students per teacher.
Is Bridge Builder Academy in Richardson a fit for dyslexia or anxiety?
Bridge Builder customizes curriculum, pace and schedule for each student, and it teaches on its campus, at home, at a local library or online. It lists dyslexia and language and auditory processing disorders among the learning differences it serves, and it names reducing anxiety and building confidence as goals. Enrollment starts with an information meeting and an academic assessment, then a review of the plan before classes begin.
How does Richardson ISD Child Find work?
Call Richardson ISD Special Student Services at 469-593-7523 or email childfind@risd.org. A parent, doctor, child care provider, relative or private school administrator can refer. For a child 3 to 5 who is not enrolled, RISD uses an Early Childhood Special Education intake form. For infants and toddlers, RISD points families to Early Childhood Intervention through the Warren Center on Custer Road. Evaluations are free.
My child attends Chase's Place or Bridge Builder. Can RISD evaluate them?
RISD evaluates students who attend a private school inside RISD boundaries and homeschooled children who live in RISD, so confirm which district covers the school's address first. Use RISD's Private School/Homeschool Evaluation Intake Form. If your child qualifies, the ARD committee offers a free appropriate public education with an IEP. You can decline it and keep the private placement, and RISD then decides what services it offers through an individual services plan. A privately placed student has no individual right to full IEP services.
Which Richardson schools help with dyslexia and ADHD?
Inside RISD or Plano ISD, a suspected disability triggers a full evaluation, and Texas treats dyslexia instruction as specially designed instruction. ADHD falls under other health impairment in federal rules, and a Section 504 plan covers students who need accommodations only. Bridge Builder offers one-on-one instruction without an IEP, so ask for its reading method in writing.
Can a Texas Education Freedom Account pay for Chase's Place or Bridge Builder?
Only if the school participates in TEFA, so check the Comptroller's school finder. For 2026-27 a private school student receives $10,474, and a child with an IEP on file with TEA can receive up to $30,000, based on what the home district would spend. A private school does not have to provide the services in the IEP. The next chance to apply is the 2027-28 cycle.
What should I ask a Richardson special education school on a tour?
Ask how many adults are in the room for most of the day, which therapists are on staff and how many minutes each student gets, and how the school handles challenging behavior. At Chase's Place, ask how it plans the move into its adolescent and adult programs. At Bridge Builder, ask how one-on-one students build social skills with peers.

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