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Best Special Needs Schools in Fairfax, Virginia (2026)

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

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School listings in Fairfax

2

PHILLIPS School - Fairfax

Listed
Fairfax, VAGrades 1-12

PHILLIPS is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing specialized education for students with behavioral health wellness challenges and developmental disabilities in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area. With a mission to empower every child to overcome adversity through tailored support, PHILLIPS has been a beacon of hope for families since 1967, offering a nurturing environment where children can thrive academically and socially. Key offerings at PHILLIPS include a range of specialized educational programs designed to meet the unique needs of each student. These programs encompass: - **Building Futures:** An intensive hands-on career training initiative that combines academic programming with positive behavioral supports, industry certification, and practical experience in building trades. - **Growing Futures:** A unique experiential program that provides training in hydroponic vertical farming and culinary arts, allowing students to grow and harvest fresh ingredients while developing essential life skills. - **Designing Futures:** An innovative career and technical education program focused on 3D design, printing, and Information Technology, aimed at building confidence and competence in youth. PHILLIPS stands out for its commitment to individualized education, ensuring that programs are built around each child's specific needs, interests, and abilities. The organization maintains a low student-teacher ratio, fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Additionally, PHILLIPS integrates advanced technology and vocational training into its curriculum, preparing students for successful futures. The emphasis on community integration and family support services further enhances the holistic approach to education, making PHILLIPS a unique choice for families seeking specialized educational options.

  • Special education school
  • ADHD
  • Autism
  • behavioral health
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Nearby school options

Compare special-needs schools near Fairfax

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

Special-needs schools in Annandale Compare 3 programs about 4 miles away. Special-needs schools in Reston Compare 4 programs about 4 miles away. Special-needs schools in Falls Church Compare 6 programs about 7 miles away.
Browse all special-needs schools in Virginia →

Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Fairfax

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

Find ABA Therapy Centers in Fairfax →

Comparing school options in Fairfax

Fairfax County Public Schools runs special education for both Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. Under the School Services Agreement, FCPS operates the City's four schools, and City students are entitled to every service offered at any Fairfax County school.

Searches from Fairfax often ask about dysgraphia and private schools for learning disabilities across Northern Virginia. Start with an FCPS evaluation, because the IEP decides whether services stay in an FCPS school or move to a private day school paid for through the Children's Services Act. For preschoolers, FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services evaluates children from age 2 through 5, and families with children under 2 contact the Infant and Toddler Connection of Fairfax-Falls Church.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Fairfax

How does special education work for City of Fairfax residents?
City students mostly attend the four City-owned schools that FCPS operates, and they receive the same special education services as county students. FCPS runs evaluations, IEPs and placements for both. If your child needs a program housed at a county school, the IEP team can place them there.
Where can I find dysgraphia schools in Northern Virginia?
Ask FCPS to evaluate written expression, which IDEA lists as an area of specific learning disability. Then compare schools on how they teach handwriting and typing, whether an OT works on fine motor skills, and which assistive technology students use, such as speech-to-text. Ask how teachers grade written work when the writing itself is the barrier.
How do private learning disability schools near Fairfax get paid for?
Two ways. If the FCPS IEP team places your child in a private day school, the Children's Services Act pays tuition and the IEP continues. If you enroll on your own, you pay and lose the individual right to the full IEP. Compare structured literacy training, class size and how each school handles ADHD alongside the learning disability.
How do Fairfax families compare autism programs?
Ask the FCPS IEP team which classroom options it offers, from general education with support to specialized classes, and visit each one. Private autism schools nearby set their own admissions, so compare BCBA oversight, staff ratios and on-site speech and OT. For therapy, see Fairfax ABA providers.
Is there a scholarship for Fairfax students with disabilities in 2026-27?
Look at Virginia's Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits program, which lets approved foundations fund private school scholarships. For 2026-27, a student with an IEP qualifies with household income up to 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines and does not have to meet the public school attendance rule other students face. Awards are generally limited to the state's per-pupil share of school funding, though some special education schools can award more, so ask what a scholarship covers.
What should I ask a Northern Virginia school on a visit?
Ask how the school measures progress in reading, writing and math, and how often you see those numbers. Ask about teacher licenses, class size, which therapists work on campus, how staff handle frustration and behavior, and whether students use laptops or dictation for written work. A private school should explain how it would use your FCPS IEP.
How do I get my Fairfax preschooler evaluated?
Children who turn 2 by September 30 through age 5 can be screened through FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services at no cost, and FCPS looks at physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, and adaptive development when it decides developmental delay eligibility. For a child under 2, contact the Infant and Toddler Connection of Fairfax-Falls Church. Fairfax County Head Start also screens each enrolled child within 45 days.
My child attends private school or is homeschooled. Can FCPS still evaluate?
Yes. Contact the principal of your FCPS base school. A local screening committee decides whether to evaluate; if it declines, you receive a written Notice Not to Evaluate. You can challenge a child find decision through a due process hearing. An evaluation does not give a private school student a full IEP, but it documents eligibility.

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