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Best Special Needs Schools in Chesapeake, Virginia (2026)

Compare 3 special needs schools in Chesapeake. Explore the ranked list and find a program that feels right for your child.

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School listings in Chesapeake

1

Chesapeake Secep Center

Listed
4.5(1 review)Chesapeake, VAGrades K-12

S E C E P Public School Consortium is a premier educational institution dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for students with diverse needs. The core mission of SECEP is to partner with students, families, and communities to meet individual educational requirements and achieve meaningful outcomes. This institution serves a wide range of students, including those with special educational needs and alternative learning requirements. SECEP offers a variety of specialized programs and services designed to support the unique learning styles of its students. Key offerings include: - Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) tailored to each student's needs - Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for behavior management and skill development - Orton-Gillingham approach for students with language-based learning disabilities - Speech and language therapy to enhance communication skills - Occupational therapy to improve daily living skills and sensory integration - Social skills groups to foster peer interactions and relationship building What sets SECEP apart is its commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. The school maintains low student-teacher ratios, ensuring personalized attention and effective instruction. Additionally, SECEP integrates specialized technology to enhance learning experiences and offers vocational training programs that prepare students for future employment opportunities. The campus environment is designed to promote both academic and social growth, making it an ideal choice for families seeking comprehensive educational support for their children.

  • Special education school
  • Autism
  • Behavioral disabilities
  • Extensive special education needs
View details
Plan Bee Academy students and staff in green hats posing by a sunburst mural.
2

Plan Bee Academy

Listed
4.5(1 review)Chesapeake, VAGrades PreK-12 & up to 22Primarily 2:1 staffing; some students receive additional 1:1 adult assistance. ratio

Plan Bee Academy in Chesapeake serves preschool, elementary, middle, high school and post-high-school students with autism and related disabilities. We teach students who need intensive instruction across their school day, as well as students preparing to move to a less restrictive educational setting. Our program is coeducational, and we work with students, families and placing agencies. Each student's IEP team determines the course of study. Students follow Virginia's Standards of Learning or the alternate assessment curriculum, depending on their educational plan. The Standards of Learning cover English, mathematics, science, history and other subjects. For eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities, the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program assesses reading, mathematics and science using standards with reduced depth, breadth and complexity. Our admissions criteria include autism, intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, developmental delay, emotional disability, speech and language impairments, and other health impairments. We primarily use 2:1 staffing, with additional one-to-one adult assistance for some students. Placement considers the level of instruction and support a student needs. Parents, public school staff and local planning teams can initiate an admission request. The evaluation includes a current IEP specifying private day placement, eligibility records, school transcripts where applicable, an updated physical and immunization records. An observation before placement is not required; meeting the student and having the family visit is preferred.

  • Special education school
  • Autism
  • Intellectual disability
  • Multiple disabilities
View details

Nearby school options

Compare special-needs schools near Chesapeake

Families often compare nearby cities when commute, availability, services, or age fit differ.

Special-needs schools in Virginia Beach Compare 5 programs about 13 miles away. Special-needs schools in Hampton Compare 4 programs about 21 miles away. Special-needs schools in Newport News Compare 4 programs about 28 miles away.
Browse all special-needs schools in Virginia →

Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Chesapeake

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

Virginia special education guide

How evaluations, IEPs, and private placement work in Virginia public schools.

Virginia FIS Waiver guide

Check FIS Waiver eligibility, the priority-based waitlist, and CSB application steps before contacting schools.

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 Chesapeake, Virginia. Many families use both specialized schools and therapy services to support their child's development.

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Comparing school options in Chesapeake

Chesapeake Public Schools serves eligible students ages 2 to 21 through its Department of Exceptional Learning, from preschool supports through transition services. If you suspect a disability, contact your child's principal or the Office of Special Education to start a referral.

Most autism searches for Chesapeake come from parents comparing public classrooms with private programs. In CPS, the IEP team decides where services happen, and when it places a child in a private day school, Virginia's Children's Services Act pays the tuition. Families who choose a private school themselves pay tuition, though students with an IEP qualify for Education Improvement Scholarships at a higher income limit. For younger children, CPS runs a Reverse Mainstream preschool and the free Chesapeake Preschool Initiative.

Local resources checked .

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Chesapeake

Which schools serve autistic children in Chesapeake?
Every CPS school can serve an autistic student, and the IEP team chooses the classroom, from general education with support to a specialized class or a private day school. Ask the team which building would host your child's services. Private autism schools set their own admissions, so ask about BCBA oversight and ratios. For therapy, see Chesapeake ABA providers.
How should Chesapeake parents compare dyslexia and ADHD support?
Ask CPS for an evaluation in writing; a diagnosis alone does not create an IEP. For dyslexia, ask each school which structured literacy program it teaches, how many minutes a week your child gets, and who is trained to deliver it. For ADHD, ask whether a 504 plan or an IEP fits, and how teachers handle focus, breaks and missing work.
Can CPS place my child in a private autism day school?
Yes, if the IEP team decides no CPS classroom can meet the IEP. Ask the team to explain which public options it ruled out and why. When CPS makes that placement, Virginia's Children's Services Act covers tuition and your child keeps every IEP right. Enrolling on your own is different: the family pays, and the full IEP no longer follows the child. Public charter schools stay free with IEP rights intact.
Does Virginia offer a private school scholarship for Chesapeake students with disabilities?
Virginia offers the Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits program, where approved scholarship foundations award private school scholarships funded by donors who receive state tax credits. A student with an IEP qualifies with household income at or below 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines and must meet an enrollment rule. Ask a participating private school first.
What should I ask on a Chesapeake school tour?
Ask to see the exact classroom your child would use and how many adults work in it. Then ask about special education licenses, which therapies happen at school, how staff respond to aggression or elopement, and whether they use seclusion. Ask how often you get progress on IEP goals, and a private school whether it works with scholarship foundations.
How do I start an evaluation with Chesapeake Public Schools?
Contact your child's principal or the CPS Office of Special Education and describe what you see at home and school. Put the request in writing and keep a dated copy. The Department of Exceptional Learning handles evaluation and eligibility for children ages 2 to 21, so preschool-age children start through the same office.
What preschool options does Chesapeake offer young children with delays?
CPS runs Reverse Mainstream, a tuition-based program where 3- and 4-year-old peer models without delays or disabilities join early childhood special education classrooms, with one teacher for every four students. The Chesapeake Preschool Initiative is a free full-day program for children who turn four by September 30. An eligible child's IEP decides which setting fits.
Where can Chesapeake parents raise special education concerns?
Join or contact the Special Education Advisory Committee, a parent-driven committee required by state and federal rules. It works with the Department of Exceptional Learning on division-wide issues. Bring individual disputes to your child's IEP team first, and use SEAC to raise patterns you see across schools.

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