Special Needs- Schools & Where to Live in North Burbs

We like Hyde Park Day School in Northfield or Safehaven in Northfield or the Cove in Northbrook for schools. They are all private and you need to be accepted into them or you home school district must get you in. I definitely recommend you check them out. Any of the towns you mentioned are great just pretty snotty if you can handle that and have the money. I work in Highland park schools and I cannot say enough great things about their school districts. I live in Vernon Hills and I thought our schools were pretty good but HP impresses me so much. I also taught in Northbrook and grew up there so I am biased but times have changed and I think it's too much for me now. I do not suggest Stevenson high school in buffalo grove. Way too much pressure there. Good luck you can't go wrong with the schools in the areas you mentioned!

Is housing cost a big concern? If so, Buffalo Grove should be more affordable than Northbrook or HP. Other good areas are Kenilworth and Wilmette.

For schools I think you'd really have to visit each one and meet with the staff to see what accommodations your child would receive. I am assuming that at age 2.5 there is no IEP on file yet, is that correct?

Do you currently work with a specialist for him/her? If so, I'd ask the therapist which school districts they have heard good things about. They should know, as there would be substantial coordination between the therapists/doctors and the SpEd staff at the schools.

I can't give you advice on all of your concerns but I will put my 2 cents in on the public vs private

Public schools always have more access to ancillary services than public schools. For that reason, I will always advice parents with special needs children to choose public. Most (if not all) special needs classrooms also integrate the kids into the gen ed classrooms. In my dd's program they all start with 1 hr, initially just with specials (music, art, gym) and then basic instructions based on the child's abilities.

Best of luck. I hope you find the perfect fit for your child.