Special Needs Schools in Los Angeles

15 special needs schools in Los Angeles

Schools whose own pages say they teach students with learning disabilities, autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, emotional needs or complex medical needs, grouped by who they serve: learning differences first, then autism and high support needs, medical needs, and schools for a mix of needs. We say which describe themselves as state-certified nonpublic schools (NPS) and which are private schools that charge tuition.

1. 1

   Westmark School

   5461 Louise Ave, Encino, CA 91316

   Good for College-bound kids with dyslexia or other language-based LD

   An independent college-preparatory school for students in grades 2 to 12 with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and other diagnosed language-based learning disabilities. Teachers differentiate instruction throughout the school day instead of pulling students out for help, and the school says partnerships with universities and year-round teacher training shape how it teaches. It admits students on a rolling basis all year and has a tuition page.

   • Grades 2 to 12
   • Independent school (tuition)
   • Language-based learning disabilities
   • Rolling admission

   westmarkschool.org (opens their site)818-986-5045On Summerground

2. 2

   Park Century School

   3939 Landmark St, Culver City, CA 90232

   Good for Elementary and middle schoolers with dyslexia

   A K-8 private school in Culver City that specializes in teaching neurodivergent children with language-based learning difficulties, including dyslexia; its mission speaks of bright children with learning differences. Its site says specialists are woven into the school day, so support doesn’t spill into your evenings. It holds K-8 admission open houses and has a tuition and financial aid page.

   • Kindergarten to 8th grade
   • Private school (tuition, financial aid)
   • Language-based learning differences

   parkcenturyschool.org (opens their site)310-979-2184On Summerground

3. 3

   Frostig School

   Pasadena and West LA · 971 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107

   Good for Kids with more than one learning challenge

   A nonprofit school, part of The Frostig Center, for children and teens with learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and processing disorders, often alongside ADHD, high-functioning autism or anxiety. The Pasadena campus is a nonpublic and independent school with classes of 12 or fewer. Frostig School West, on the grounds of Bel Air Church at 16221 Mulholland Drive, has 4 to 5 students per teacher. Teachers use programs including Lindamood-Bell and the Wilson Reading System.

   • Elementary through high school
   • Pasadena campus is an NPS
   • Classes of 12 or fewer
   • Second campus on Mulholland Drive

   frostigschool.org (opens their site)626-791-1255On Summerground

4. 4

   McKinna Learning Academy

   28990 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste. 116, Malibu, CA 90265

   Good for Kids getting ready to return to a regular school

   An elementary and middle school for neurodivergent students ages 6 to 14, founded in 2008 by educational psychologist Dr. Kellye McKinna. It teaches students with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, nonverbal learning disorder and other differences, and supports anxiety and executive functioning challenges. With an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio, support happens in class rather than in pull-out sessions, and students move on to traditional high schools.

   • Ages 6 to 14
   • 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio
   • Support in class, not pull-out
   • Serves Malibu, Conejo Valley, West Valley

   mckinnalearningacademy.org (opens their site)310-589-8144On Summerground

5. 5

   Willowcrest School

   10506-10512 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

   Good for Young kids who need therapy built into the day

   A progressive elementary school for neurodivergent children. Along with a full-day, language-based curriculum, children get one-on-one speech, occupational, behavioral and music therapy at school. Classes are small, with student-teacher ratios from 1:1 to 3:1 depending on the activity and the child, and the team includes an occupational therapist, a behaviorist, a speech-language pathologist and a board-certified music therapist.

   • Elementary school
   • 1:1 to 3:1 student-teacher ratios
   • Speech, OT, behavior and music therapy
   • Language-based curriculum

   willowcrestschool.com (opens their site)818-732-8760On Summerground

6. 6

   Village Glen School

   6455 Coldwater Canyon Ave, Valley Glen, CA 91606

   Good for Autistic students who need social and academic support

   A school for students with autism spectrum disorder and related needs, with elementary, middle and high school programs. It aims to build each student’s social, communication and academic skills, through social skills classes, support services, project-based learning, enrichment and college counseling, and it runs support groups for parents and caregivers. It holds open houses every week; use its inquiry form to book a tour.

   • Elementary through high school
   • Autism and related needs
   • Social skills classes
   • Parent support groups

   villageglen.org (opens their site)818-623-6300On Summerground

7. 7

   Sunrise School

   Sherman Oaks and Culver City · 13130 Burbank Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91401

   Good for Students with high support needs and limited language

   A Help Group special education day school for students ages 5 to 22 with moderate to severe delays tied to autism and other developmental disabilities, with campuses in Sherman Oaks and Culver City. It teaches functional reading, writing and math with self-help, vocational and community skills, in TEACCH-structured classrooms, and uses picture exchange (PECS), AAC devices and iPads with students who have limited language. Speech and occupational therapy follow each student’s IEP.

   • Ages 5 to 22
   • Moderate to severe support needs
   • Speech and OT per the IEP
   • Vocational lab and community outings

   sunriseschool.net (opens their site)On Summerground

8. 8

   Westmoreland Academy

   5 and 6 Westmoreland Pl, Pasadena, CA 91103

   Good for Autistic students who need OT, PT and speech at school

   A nonpublic school (NPS) for students with autism, run by the Institute for the Redesign of Learning next to the Gamble House in Pasadena. Its program includes occupational, physical and speech therapy, specially designed PE, positive behavior support, a sensory room, counseling, work-readiness training and transition planning, and it provides transportation. It’s WASC accredited and teaches to the referring district’s and the state’s curriculum standards.

   • Nonpublic school (NPS)
   • For students with autism
   • OT, PT and speech therapy
   • Transportation provided

   redesignlearning.org (opens their site)626-356-1500On Summerground

9. 9

   Villa Esperanza School

   2116 E Villa St, Pasadena, CA 91107

   Good for Kids who communicate with AAC or sign language

   A nonpublic school for students ages 5 to 22 with high support needs from autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Classrooms keep at least one staff member for every three students, and children learn to communicate by speaking, signing or using AAC apps on iPads. Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and behavior intervention are part of the program. Villa contracts with school districts and regional centers, and private pay is possible too.

   • Ages 5 to 22
   • At least 1 staff per 3 students
   • Speech, OT and behavior support
   • District, regional center or private pay

   villaesperanzaservices.org (opens their site)626-449-2919On Summerground

10. 10

    Wayfinder Special Education School

    Leimert Park area (South LA)

    Good for Kids with medical needs or vision loss

    A state-certified NPS for students ages 5 to 22 with moderate to severe disabilities and medical, physical or behavioral challenges, such as seizure disorders, cerebral palsy and severe neurological conditions. With one staff member for every two students, it offers speech, occupational and physical therapy, on-site nursing, a pool and sensory playgrounds, plus pre-Braille and mobility training for students with visual impairments, though vision loss isn’t required. Families, doctors, regional centers or districts can refer.

    • Ages 5 to 22
    • 1:2 staff-to-student ratio
    • On-site nursing
    • Vision support, including pre-Braille

    wayfinderfamily.org (opens their site)On Summerground

11. 11

    The Gray Academy

    West LA · 12318 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

    Good for Medically fragile children, kindergarten to 8th grade

    A nonprofit NPS for children in kindergarten through 8th grade with complex medical and neurological needs, opened in 2018. It accepts children with rare diseases, genetic disorders, traumatic brain injuries, mobility challenges and impaired immune systems, among other conditions. Therapy is built into the school day in one place, rather than at outside appointments that pull children out of class, and the building has rehabilitation equipment and added safety features in classrooms.

    • Kindergarten to 8th grade
    • Nonprofit NPS
    • Therapy built into the school day
    • Rehabilitation equipment on site

    thegrayacademy.org (opens their site)844-444-3922On Summerground

12. 12

    Switzer Learning Center

    2201 Amapola Ct, Torrance, CA 90501

    Good for Teens who need therapy built into high school

    A nonprofit, WASC-accredited NPS certified by the California Department of Education, serving neurodiverse teens in grades 9 to 12 with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, nonverbal learning disorder and social-emotional needs, with an optional adult transition year. Speech therapy, ABA-based intervention, counseling and art therapy are tied to each student’s IEP, and there’s a diploma track with A-G courses. It says many students come after trying less restrictive supports, such as resource or special day classes.

    • Grades 9 to 12
    • CDE-certified NPS
    • Diploma track with A-G courses
    • Transportation offered

    switzercenter.org (opens their site)310-328-3611On Summerground

13. 13

    Kayne Eras School

    5350 Machado Rd, Culver City, CA 90230

    Good for Kids with emotional, behavioral and learning needs

    A K-12 nonpublic school for students ages 5 to 22, run by ECF on a 2.5-acre campus in Culver City. Students’ IEP eligibilities include emotional disturbance, autism, intellectual disability, other health impairment and specific learning disability, and the school provides speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and individual and group counseling. It’s WASC accredited and accepts referrals from most local school districts and charter schools.

    • Grades K to 12, ages 5 to 22
    • Certified nonpublic school
    • Counseling, speech and OT
    • Takes district and charter referrals

    kayneerasschool.org (opens their site)On Summerground

14. 14

    Dubnoff School

    18200 Rinaldi Pl, Northridge, CA 91326

    Good for Valley teens who need a small, structured school

    A small NPS in the Northridge and Porter Ranch area for grades 6 to 12 (certified to take 5th graders too), serving students with emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, other health impairments and autism. About 60 students learn in classes with at least one teaching staff member for every 3 to 4 students and earn rewards for schoolwork and behavior. It offers counseling, contracted speech and occupational therapy, a 20-day summer session and van transportation.

    • Grades 6 to 12
    • About 60 students
    • 1 teaching staff per 3 to 4 students
    • Vans across the Valley, Glendale, Pasadena

    dubnoffschool.org (opens their site)On Summerground

15. 15

    Epiphany Academy

    302 N Long Beach Blvd, Compton, CA 90221

    Good for South LA County students with mild to moderate needs

    A state-certified NPS in Compton for students in grades 5 to 12 with mild to moderate needs: autism, emotional disturbance, specific learning disabilities, other health impairments (including ADD) and intellectual disability. Its services include behavior support based on applied behavior analysis (ABA), counseling, speech and language therapy, and transition planning toward work or further education after high school.

    • Grades 5 to 12
    • State-certified NPS
    • ABA-based behavior support
    • Transition services

    epiphanyacademy.org (opens their site)310-885-1469On Summerground

Nonpublic schools vs. private special education schools

Most schools on this list are one of two kinds, and the difference decides who pays.

• Nonpublic schools (NPS) are private special education schools that the California Department of Education certifies to teach students with IEPs. Your district places a child there through the IEP and contracts with the school. Under federal rules, a child the district places in a private school gets special education there at no cost to the parents, and keeps all the rights of a public school student with an IEP. On this list: Westmoreland, Villa Esperanza, Wayfinder, The Gray Academy, Switzer, Kayne Eras, Dubnoff, Epiphany and Frostig’s Pasadena campus.
• Private schools for learning differences, such as Westmark, Park Century and McKinna, run their own admissions and charge tuition. Park Century, for one, lists financial aid.

Some schools take more than one route. Villa Esperanza contracts with school districts and regional centers and also takes private pay, and Wayfinder accepts referrals from families, doctors, regional centers and districts. Ask each school how families like yours usually enroll.

You may also see the term “therapeutic day school” for schools where counseling and behavior support are part of the school day. Switzer, Kayne Eras and Dubnoff all build counseling into their programs.

How your district can place and pay for a nonpublic school

An NPS placement is decided by your child’s IEP team, and you’re part of that team. Special education has to be offered in the least restrictive environment that meets your child’s needs, so teams usually look at district options first, from help in a regular class to a special day class. To make the case for an NPS:

1. Ask in writing for an assessment or an IEP meeting, and describe what isn’t working at school.
2. Gather evidence: the district’s assessments, any private evaluation (the district must consider one you share if it meets its criteria), progress reports, behavior data and notes from teachers and therapists.
3. Visit schools before the meeting. Ask whether they have an opening for your child’s age and needs, and whether they work with your district.
4. At the IEP meeting, the team decides services and placement. If it agrees on an NPS, the district places your child there and pays.
5. If you disagree with the district’s assessment, you can ask for an independent educational evaluation at public expense. Disagreements over whether the district’s offer is appropriate can go to a due process hearing.

LAUSD special education and other LA districts

Your school district depends on where you live. If that’s LAUSD, LAUSD runs your child’s special education; if it’s Pasadena, Torrance, Glendale or another district, that district does, under the same state and federal rules. Either way, the IEP team decides services and placement, and the district’s own assessment is free.

Under California’s rules, districts offer a range of options, including help in the general education classroom, a resource specialist program, pull-out services, special education classes, and instruction at home or in a hospital. Pasadena Unified, for example, describes services from weekly speech therapy to resource specialist support to a special education classroom. LAUSD also runs separate special education centers:

• McBride Special Education Center in Mar Vista serves students in grades 6 to 12 with intensive support needs (school site).
• Lokrantz Special Education Center in Reseda serves students from preschool through 8th grade on the alternate curriculum.

If no district program can meet your child’s needs, the IEP team can place your child at a certified NPS, like many of the schools above, at the district’s expense.

How to choose a school: questions for your tour

Visit more than once if you can, and watch a class in session. Ask:

• Which students do you serve, by age, grade and IEP eligibility, and do you have an opening for my child?
• Are you a certified nonpublic school, a private school, or both? Which districts place students with you?
• How big are classes, and how many adults are in the room? On this list, ratios run from one staff member for every two students at Wayfinder to classes of 12 at Frostig.
• Which therapies happen at school, and are therapists on staff or contracted? Dubnoff, for example, contracts out speech and occupational therapy.
• How do you handle behavior, and how will you tell me about my child’s day?
• For teens: is there a diploma track, a certificate track, or both, and what happens after 18?
• Is there transportation, and a summer session (extended school year)?
• For private schools: what’s the tuition, and is there financial aid?

If your child is under 5, see our guide to special needs preschools and daycare. If you’re still working out what your child needs, start with an evaluation: our guides to autism testing and dyslexia testing list places in LA.

Questions parents ask