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Best Special Needs Schools in Burlington, Vermont (2026)

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

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School listings in Burlington

Two students studying together outdoors at Rock Point School in Burlington, Vermont.
1

Rock Point School

Listed
Burlington, VTGrades 9-12

Rock Point School, located in Burlington, Vermont, is an inclusive and nurturing independent boarding and day school serving students in grades 9-12. With a core mission centered on fostering academic success and personal growth, the school is particularly well-suited for adolescents who may have language-based learning disabilities or are twice-exceptional. Rock Point School employs innovative educational methodologies that emphasize individualized learning plans, allowing each student to thrive in a supportive environment tailored to their unique needs. The school's small community fosters strong relationships among students and staff, creating an atmosphere where every individual is welcomed and celebrated for who they are. This commitment to inclusivity extends beyond academics; students engage in a rich variety of extracurricular activities that promote social skills and lasting friendships. Unique features of Rock Point School include its low student-teacher ratio, which ensures personalized attention, as well as its strong partnerships with families that enhance the educational experience. The serene campus offers a retreat-like setting conducive to learning while being conveniently located near the vibrant cultural offerings of Burlington. Through this holistic approach, Rock Point School empowers students to discover their passions and develop the confidence necessary for future success.

  • High school
  • Learning differences
  • Twice-exceptional
  • Boarding
View details
Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes campus or student activity photograph.
2

Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes

Listed
Burlington, VTGrades PreK-5Tuition-free

Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes is a Burlington School District elementary school in the Old North End where Education for Sustainability shapes daily learning. Children study their own neighborhood through place-based and project-based units: first graders learn to map their community, fifth graders run a farmer's market, and the whole school builds puppets and sculptures for our spring Trout Parade through the streets. We have two classroom teachers in each grade from kindergarten to 5th, plus a preschool program for younger children. Art, music and physical education round out the week. Our library, often called the tree house because it overlooks the neighborhood, holds more than 25,000 books, a full computer lab and shelves of books about sustainability. Our special educators, speech and language specialists, school psychologist and guidance counselor join each child's team when support is needed, and a full-time nurse runs the health office. English learner services and multilingual liaisons work with families who speak languages other than English. The district's afterschool program runs at SA with supper served daily, and our food service team prepares school meals every day.

  • Public elementary school (PreK-5)
  • Education for Sustainability
  • Place-based learning
  • Project-based learning
View details

Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Burlington

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

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.

Comparing school options in Burlington

Burlington parents of a child with autism, ADHD, anxiety or a learning disability usually start with Burlington School District, which runs early education, six elementary schools including Sustainability Academy, Edmunds and Hunt middle schools, and Burlington High School with its Tech Center. For high schoolers who need something smaller, Rock Point School sits on Rock Point Road.

The district's October 2026 snapshot counts 735 students with IEPs out of 3,070, about one in four. This page covers Sustainability Academy on North Street and Rock Point School, an independent boarding and day high school.

Local resources checked .

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Burlington

Are there autism programs in Burlington, VT schools?
Burlington has no stand-alone autism school on this page, so most autistic students learn in district buildings with an IEP. Student Support Services oversees special education and 504 plans from PreK through grade 12, and the district names Discrete Trial Instruction among the supports its executive director handles. Ask your IEP team how and where that instruction happens, and whether your child qualifies for Extended School Year, a free half-day summer program tied to IEP goals.
What kind of school is Rock Point School in Burlington?
Rock Point is an independent, nonsectarian boarding and day high school for grades 9 to 12, with IRS nonprofit status dating to 1971. It serves bright, creative teens who have struggled in conventional classrooms, and many of its students live with anxiety, ADHD or learning differences. It has long welcomed LGBTQ+ teens. Federal private school data for 2021-22 counted 23 students and about 4.6 per teacher. The school holds special education approval from the Vermont State Board of Education.
How does Rock Point support a teen with an IEP or 504 plan?
Rock Point folds a student's IEP or 504 plan into its own Student Learning Profile & Plan, written with the school's special educator. Teachers adjust assignments and testing, for example extended time, oral answers, shorter written work or copies of notes. Neurodivergent students get executive function coaching and sensory-aware classrooms, mostly without needing a formal diagnosis. Students can also add online courses, Burlington High School classes, college courses or internships when ready.
What does Rock Point cost, and can the district pay?
For 2026-27, Rock Point lists tuition of $77,500 for boarding students and $46,500 for day students, with need-based tuition assistance in the first year. Because Burlington runs its own high school, Vermont's tuition law (16 V.S.A. § 822) does not let parents pick a school at public cost. The board may pay independent tuition only when it judges a student's needs cannot be met in the district or a nearby public school, and in practice that runs through special education: Student Support Services has an out-of-district liaison who case-manages students placed by an IEP team.
What should I know about Sustainability Academy in Burlington?
Sustainability Academy is a district elementary school on North Street that builds its teaching around social, environmental and economic justice. It enrolled 200 students with 20 teachers in 2023-24, about 10 students per teacher. The district's October 2026 snapshot counts 189 students, 35 of them with IEPs. Its special education team has been sharing augmentative and alternative communication tools with classes.
How do I get my child evaluated by Burlington School District?
Contact Student Support Services, your child's teacher or the principal, and follow up in writing so the request carries a date. The district screens kindergartners each spring, but you can ask to talk about concerns any time. Its Child Find duty covers every Burlington resident with a disability under age 21 and every child attending a private school located in Burlington, so Rock Point students and homeschoolers can be referred too.
Where do Burlington preschoolers with delays get help?
Under age 3, Vermont's early intervention program is Children's Integrated Services/Early Intervention (CIS/EI). From age 3 until 6, Early Childhood Special Education runs through the local school district, which in Burlington means the district's Early Education program, and services can happen at home, in child care or in preschool. Every Vermont family can also use at least 10 hours a week of publicly funded prekindergarten for 35 weeks a year at a prequalified program (16 V.S.A. § 829).
Which Burlington options fit a child with dyslexia or ADHD?
Start with the IEP-or-504 question. A 504 plan gives accommodations to reach regular coursework, while an IEP adds specialized instruction, and dyslexia usually qualifies as a specific learning disability. Burlington School District handles both through Student Support Services. For teens who need a smaller setting, Rock Point names ADHD, executive function challenges and learning differences among the students it serves. Ask any school how it teaches reading.

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