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Top 4 Best Special Needs Schools in Green Bay, Wisconsin (2026)

Compare 4 special needs schools in Green Bay. Explore the ranked list and find a program that feels right for your child.

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School listings in Green Bay

Collecting lesson material while on vacation in Amsterdam!  The Van Gogh museum was inspiring!!! I can't wait to get back to the office and develop a new Van Gogh unit for my students! - Amy
1

ACE Institute

Listed
Green Bay, WI

The ACE Institute in Green Bay, WI, is dedicated to empowering children and adults with disabilities to achieve their life goals through innovative support, education, and outreach. Serving a diverse range of students, including those with language-based learning disabilities and twice-exceptional individuals, the institute employs the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) as its core therapeutic approach. RPM is a personalized blend of engagement techniques designed to leverage each student's unique strengths while introducing new topics and purposeful activities tailored to their needs. This method has proven transformative for many students, enabling them to communicate effectively and build meaningful connections with others. What sets the ACE Institute apart is its commitment to individualized attention through a low student-teacher ratio, fostering strong family partnerships and community involvement. Since its inception in 2010, the institute has offered one-on-one services, group sessions, and consultative support, creating a nurturing environment where students can thrive socially and academically.

  • Educational institution
  • Learning differences
  • Twice-exceptional
  • Private school
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2

APPL-Ashwaubenon Preschool and Parent Learning

Listed
Green Bay, WIAges 2-5

APPL, the Ashwaubenon Preschool and Parent Learning program, brings parents and young children into the classroom together. Each two-hour class has three parts: parent and child interaction, preschool for the children, and a discussion group for parents. Children 24 months and older join classroom activities led by our preschool teachers, and younger babies stay with their parent. We run 10-week sessions in fall, winter and spring, a 10-week fall evening class, and a 4-week summer session. Families choose one class per week: Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m., or Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Class size is capped by the child-to-teacher ratio, enrolled families get first chance at the next session, and we keep a waiting list. Registration opens in April for summer and May for fall, and continues through the year. Our team includes three preschool teachers and five parent facilitators. APPL shares its space with the Ashwaubenon Family Resource Center at Ashwaubenon High School, part of the Ashwaubenon School District, and special events run throughout the year.

  • Public parent-child preschool program
  • Parent-child classes
  • Parent education
  • Public school
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outside kids trees
3

Ashwaubenon Cooperative Preschool

Listed
Green Bay, WIAges 2-5

Ashwaubenon Cooperative Preschool is dedicated to fostering a nurturing and engaging environment for young children, specifically designed for three-year-olds in a play-based setting. The school's core mission revolves around promoting exploration, creativity, and social development among its students, allowing them to thrive through imaginative play and interactive experiences. In addition to its preschool program, Ashwaubenon Co-op offers an after-school program tailored for school-aged children, ensuring that learning continues beyond the traditional classroom setting. The emphasis on play as a fundamental aspect of learning helps children build self-confidence, develop problem-solving skills, and form meaningful friendships. What sets Ashwaubenon Cooperative Preschool apart is its commitment to community involvement and collaboration with families, fostering strong partnerships that enhance the educational experience. With a focus on individualized attention in a supportive environment, the school stands out as a valuable resource for families seeking quality early childhood education.

  • Preschool
  • Private school
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4

Katherine Johnson Academy of Enriched Virtual Learning

Listed
Green Bay, WIGrades K-8

Katherine Johnson Academy of Enriched Virtual Learning (KJ Academy) offers a unique all-virtual educational experience tailored for approximately 100 students in grades 5K through 8, including those with special education needs and English Learner services. The academy's core mission is to provide a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses essential subjects such as reading, writing, math, social studies, science, and social/emotional learning, alongside interventions in literacy and math. Instruction is delivered by licensed GBAPS teachers who adhere to the district's school calendar and grading policies, ensuring a consistent educational framework. What sets KJ Academy apart is its commitment to fostering strong family partnerships and its low student-teacher ratio, which allows for personalized attention and support. Additionally, the school emphasizes a holistic approach to education by integrating physical education, art, and music into its curriculum. This nurturing environment not only promotes academic success but also supports the emotional well-being of each student, making KJ Academy a distinctive choice for families seeking an enriching virtual learning experience.

  • School
  • English Learner services
  • special education needs
  • Private school
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Nearby school options

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Planning guides

Plan your next school conversation in Green Bay

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

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Comparing school options in Green Bay

Green Bay Area Public School District (GBAPS) runs district-wide autism programs at the elementary and secondary levels, from cross-categorical special education services to self-contained classrooms for students with significant communication, social and sensory needs. District autism specialists use rubrics to decide which program fits. GBAPS also publishes parent-rights booklets in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish, and splits its associate directors of special education between east-side and west-side schools.

Families searching for a special needs school near Green Bay usually compare these district programs with private schools that take Wisconsin's Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP). Under the SNSP, a private school implements the student's IEP or services plan as modified by a written agreement between the school and the parent, so services can differ from the public IEP. Charter school students keep full IDEA rights.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Schools in Green Bay

What autism programs does Green Bay Area Public Schools offer?
At the elementary level, Autism Focus Programs at Kennedy, Fort Howard, King and Red Smith serve students in the general curriculum who have major communication, sensory, social and behavior challenges; each class has one special education teacher and two paraprofessionals. A Moderate Autism Focus Program teaches independent work through literacy and math centers, and an Autism/ID program serves students who also have an intellectual disability. Secondary schools run their own Autism Focus Program.
How do I compare dyslexia or ADHD supports in Green Bay?
DPI publishes an Informational Guidebook on Dyslexia and Related Conditions (second edition, 2026) under 2019 Wisconsin Act 86, and GBAPS links it from its special education page. Use it to ask a school which screening it uses, which structured literacy method it teaches, and how it measures progress. For ADHD, ask whether supports belong in an IEP or a 504 plan.
Public, charter or private: how do tuition and services work?
GBAPS and charter schools are tuition free. At a private school you choose without a scholarship, you pay tuition, and the district where the school sits handles child find but your child has no individual right to the full IEP. With the SNSP, the state pays the participating school and the school delivers the IEP as modified by your agreement.
Can a Green Bay student use the Special Needs Scholarship in 2026-27?
If your child has an IEP or services plan, likely yes. DPI's 2026-27 rules require a plan that is in place or was developed on or after September 15, 2023, with no later finding that the disability ended. Family income does not matter. Paper applications go straight to the participating private school, any time from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
What should I ask a private school that accepts the SNSP?
Ask which parts of the IEP the school will deliver and which it will change, and get that agreement in writing. Ask about teacher certifications, class size, on-site speech and OT, the behavior approach and how progress is reported. Schools must accept SNSP students in the order complete applications arrive, so ask where your child stands.
How does Child Find work in Green Bay?
Anyone, including a parent, who believes a child has a disability can refer the child to GBAPS, and doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers have a legal duty to refer after telling the parent. Referrals must be in writing and explain why. Send yours to the GBAPS Director of Special Education and keep a copy; our evaluation request guide helps with wording.
How does a child get placed in a GBAPS autism program?
Through the IEP team. District autism specialists facilitate a rubric score that, along with the IEP, decides whether a program fits. The elementary Severe Autism Focus Programs serve grades K-3 and are designed as one or two year placements for intensive teaching, not a permanent setting, so ask how the team plans the next step.
Can my resident district reevaluate my SNSP student?
Yes, but only once every three years for SNSP eligibility purposes. Keep copies of the IEP or services plan your child had when you applied, and ask the private school how it will report progress so you can share it at any reevaluation.

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