For individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other forms of neurodiversity, navigating the educational system can be particularly difficult, necessitating specific help and understanding. Fortunately, a lot of schools for autism in Maryland provide programs to support neurodivergent children, including assistance with academics, social skills, executive functions, independent living, and career readiness.
We recognize that it might be difficult to locate the ideal learning environment for your child who is neurodivergent. We’ve put together this guide to assist you go through all of your options and highlight some of the top schools for autism in Maryland. We are here to make this process less daunting, from determining which counties are the most accommodating to figuring out what kind of school could be ideal for your child.
Table of Contents
Neurodivergent Students: What Are They?
Neurodivergent people process emotions, behaviors, and learning in ways that deviate from the norm. Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and bipolar disorder are a few instances of neurodiversity. In order to create inclusive and supportive schools for autism in Maryland that meet the particular requirements of neurodivergent children and promote their academic achievement, it is essential to acknowledge their distinct strengths and challenges.
Which Type of Schools for Autism in Maryland Is Ideal for Children?
Depending on your child’s particular requirements and skills, the “best” kind of schools for autism in Maryland can differ significantly. However, many parents find success with specialized schools that cater to children who are neurodivergent. Below are some requirements or key factors to keep in mind when selecting schools for autism in Maryland;
- Tailored Education: These schools provide individualized lesson programs and lower class sizes.
- Knowledgeable Staff: They have personnel who have received training in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
- Incorporated Therapies: Daily activities incorporate therapies.
What Difficulties Do Neurodivergent Students Face?
Among other difficulties, neurodivergent students frequently have trouble with social relationships, communication, test anxiety, sensory sensitivity, and working memory, which can affect their social and academic experiences. They frequently struggle with executive skills like scheduling, time management, and organizing.
Students may face challenges if they lack the necessary support because traditional learning environments unlike schools for autism in Maryland are not designed to accommodate their individual learning styles. A complete strategy incorporating accommodations, understanding, and a dedication to making neurodiverse students feel included is needed to address these issues in educational settings.
Choosing the Best School: Factors to Think About
When choosing schools for autism in Maryland for a child with autism, it’s important to take into account the child’s particular needs and learning style in addition to the school’s location.
The key factors include:
1. Therapeutic Approach: Assess the particular techniques employed. Does your child fit in with the school’s philosophy? Look for evidence-based techniques such as occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, or Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and make sure they are included into the regular curriculum rather than being offered as pull-out sessions.
2. Student-to-Staff Ratio: More customized attention is typically associated with lower ratios. High levels of support are frequently essential in autism education for both behavioral control and intellectual advancement.
3. Staff Training and Expertise: Find out about the instructors’ and therapists’ credentials, certifications, and continuing education in autism-specific teaching techniques.
4. Curriculum and Academics: Whether the curriculum emphasizes academic success, life skills, or vocational training, be sure it is in line with your child’s cognitive ability and learning objectives.
5. Transition Planning: Take into account the schools for autism in Maryland capacity to support transitions for post-graduation life, such as higher education or work readiness, as well as within the school (e.g., from small group to classroom settings).
6. Parent Communication and Involvement: A solid collaboration between the family and the schools for autism in Maryland is essential. Seek out educational institutions that provide possibilities for parent involvement and consistent, open communication.
7. Environment and Facilities: To make sure your child’s sensory needs are met, visit the schools for autism in Maryland (either in person or virtually) to evaluate the sensory environment, the availability of quiet areas or sensory spaces, and the general physical layout.
Related: 20 Best Educational Apps For Kids (Paid & Free)
Considering Placement and Funding
Federal and state laws generally control funding for non-public special education placement in Maryland, guaranteeing that all children with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Schools for autism in Maryland are legally obligated to pay for a student’s placement in an authorized non-public special education school if it is unable to provide FAPE in its own facilities because of the student’s unique demands, which are frequently complicated in cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The local education system, not the parents, is usually responsible for paying the sometimes substantial tuition at these specialist institutions. Regardless of a family’s financial circumstances, this funding system guarantees access to essential services. The normal and frequently most economical way to get specialized, intense educational support is through the local education agency (LEA) funding method, while parents may decide to pay for a private placement on their own.
To prove that a public school environment is inadequate for the student’s requirements, the process calls for documentation and assessment by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
Non-Public Placement and the IEP Process
The Individualized Education Program (IEP) team procedure is used to decide whether to send a child to a non-public school. This team, which consists of parents, educators, and school professionals, assesses the student’s educational needs as well as the best environment and services.
Typically, the process goes like this:
- Evaluation: The student is assessed to ascertain whether they qualify for special education assistance and to pinpoint certain autism-related requirements.
- IEP Development: The group creates an IEP that lists objectives and necessary services.
- Placement Consideration: As part of the continuum of services, the team initially looks at public school choices.
- Non-Public Referral: A referral to an authorized non-public school is taken into consideration if the team finds that no public school program can adequately implement the IEP and offer FAPE.
- Placement and Funding: The local school system issues a contract and pays for all tuition and transportation expenses after a suitable non-public school is found and the placement is approved by the team, including the parents.
Best Schools for Autism in Maryland
In Maryland, if a public school is unable to meet a student’s needs as identified by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, the student’s local school system will often pay the tuition for non-public special education institutions.
Parents may also decide to make private payments; some may be partially reimbursed by out-of-network insurance benefits. Details on the features and offerings of each school are explained below;
1. The Auburn School:
The Auburn School is an independent day school and one of the top schools for autism in Maryland with a Silver Spring location that caters to academically gifted kids who struggle with language, organization, socializing, and communication, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), anxiety, and ADHD. It incorporates related services like occupational therapy and pragmatic language support directly into the curriculum and has small class sizes with a ratio of no more than 8:1.
The program offers an annual tuition of about $44,000 for the 2024–2025 school year, with financial aid and tuition help accessible to qualifying families. It concurrently develops academic skills, social competency, and pragmatic language in an engaging atmosphere.
2. Baltimore Lab School:
In the Old Goucher area, Baltimore Lab School is an authorized private special education day school that serves intelligent kids in grades 1 through 12 who have learning challenges and/or ADHD. Its distinctive, multisensory, arts-based curriculum promotes social and intellectual development in small classes with a remarkably low teacher-to-student ratio.
Occupational therapists, psychologists, and speech-language pathologists are among the full-time, on-site specialists that conduct individual sessions and integrate services into the classroom. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the cost of tuition is roughly $44,450 for lower school, $49,210 for middle school, and $49,750 for high school. After-school programs are offered at an extra cost.
3. The Forbush School at Glyndon:
The Forbush School at Glyndon, a 12-month school for kids with complex emotional, behavioral, intellectual, and autistic spectrum disorders, is situated in Reisterstown and is a part of Sheppard Pratt. In small class settings, the school uses Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to teach and encourage positive social and academic behaviors.
Individualized behavior plans, proactive tactics, sensory diets, and social skills training are among the services offered with the goal of helping students thrive in both the classroom and the community. Although most students are placed through their local school systems with financial assistance, private-pay students spend about $25,000 in tuition year.
4. Gateway School:
For K–8 students with autism and communication impairments, Gateway School, a HASA school in Baltimore, provides a comprehensive 12-month curriculum. The school has a pathway system that includes a small group/classroom track to prepare children for a conventional classroom setting and an ABA track that provides maximum 1:1 care. Occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and life skills training in a “Activities of Daily Living” room are all incorporated throughout the day.
Referrals from private-paying students or local school systems are accepted at the school. The private pay tuition at the Maryland location is probably a substantial investment because the tuition for the NYC location is more than $80,000. However, if the placement is specified in the student’s IEP, the local school system usually covers the cost.
5. Benedictine School:
Students with autism, various disabilities, and intellectual disabilities aged 5 to 21 can receive residential and educational services at the Benedictine School in Ridgely. Small class sizes, a high staff-to-student ratio (1:3 or better), sensory rooms, a motor room, and an indoor pool are important elements.
The school emphasizes community integration, provides a 12-month educational environment with vocational and career development programs, and offers a variety of learning environments. Since it’s a private school, tuition is $25,650 for the 2025–2026 school year; however, if the placement is part of a student’s IEP, the local education agency typically covers the cost.
6. Ivymount School:
Neurodiverse students with autism, intellectual disabilities, and other learning needs, ages 4 to 21, are served at the non-profit, non-public Ivymount School in Rockville. It employs evidence-based practices, such as applied behavior analysis, in a structured, language-rich learning environment, has low student-to-teacher ratios, and integrates academic and social/pragmatic skills programs.
Offerings include post-high school/work transition programs, allied services like speech and occupational therapy, and a variety of classroom models (Multiple Learning Needs, Model Asperger Program). Although tuition is usually paid for the local education organizations, private tuition is believed to be around $25,000 per year.
7. Linwood Center:
The MSDE has given Ellicott City’s Linwood School permission to run a special education program for students with autism and related developmental problems between the ages of 6 and 21. It offers a 12-month program with small class sizes and a multidisciplinary approach that makes use of a number of techniques, such as community-based training and discrete trial instruction.
With a heavy emphasis on self-determination and life skills, the program provides academic, vocational, and residential programs while emphasizing communication through a variety of modalities. Linwood is one of the few organizations that provides services all the way into adulthood and accepts students placed by local school systems.
8. Kennedy Krieger School – Fairmount Campus:
Kindergarten through eighth-grade kids with a variety of challenges, such as autism, learning difficulties, and communication issues, can receive comprehensive educational and behavioral assistance at the Fairmount Campus of the Kennedy Krieger School in Baltimore. It integrates technology like interactive whiteboards and iPads and employs an evidence-based, best-practice methodology that is in line with Maryland College and Career Ready criteria.
A multisensory area, individual and group therapy, art and music therapy, and a positive behavior support program are among the features. When their IEPs cannot be fulfilled publicly, students are usually assigned by their home school systems, which means the school system is generally liable for covering the expenses.
9. The Trellis School:
Using the concepts of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the Trellis School in Sparks provides a learning environment designed specifically for children with autism from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade. A highly structured and customized educational experience is made possible by features like two instructional buildings with sensory rooms, gymnasiums, therapy rooms, and an instructional kitchen.
The curriculum, which offers services like occupational, music, and speech-language therapy, is based on MSDE standards and makes use of evaluation instruments like the VB-MAPP. The school, which focuses on assisting kids in learning and applying skills in a variety of contexts, accepts students through private placement or recommendations from the local school system.
10. High Road School of Anne Arundel County:
The High Road School of Anne Arundel County, a non-public special education day school for K–12 students with impairments, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is situated in Millersville and is approved by the MSDE. It offers highly tailored, research-based training in a controlled, encouraging setting with small class sizes and a low student-to-staff ratio. Under the direction of their Individualized Education curricula (IEPs), the school incorporates a number of associated services, including occupational therapy, speech therapy, and counseling, directly into the curricula of the pupils.
Academic advancement, behavioral control with positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), and getting kids ready for success in postsecondary education are the main priorities. When a student’s needs are not met by the public setting, the local school system usually handles tuition funding, as decided by the IEP process.
FAQ’s
Does the public school system pay for these institutions’ tuition?
Yes, if the IEP team finds that the student’s needs cannot be met by a public school.
What is an IEP and what makes it crucial?
A student’s special education services are governed by a legal document called an IEP (Individualized Education Program).
Do these schools only employ ABA therapy?
No, schools for autism in Maryland employ a variety of evidence-based strategies, such as occupational therapy, speech, and ABA.
How can I start the process of placing my child in one of these schools?
To begin, ask your local public school system for a special education services evaluation.
Conclusion
It is evident that Maryland offers a wide range of excellent options for students with autism. It may seem difficult at first to find the ideal fit for schools for autism in Maryland. Nevertheless, you can find schools for autism in Maryland where your child can succeed if you are patient and have correct information.
