The Best Special Education Schools
We graded 11 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 1,056 Google reviews of 11 top-rated special education schools nationwide. Updated November 2, 2026.
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Best special education schools for educational services
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The Goddard School of Federal WayHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Educational services”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%16Overall Experts Score 20%69Job match= 85Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.68★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.85Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Educational services” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about educational services
The Goddard School of Federal WayHighly recommend - the school is ran by Amazing women and teachers who truly care about your children’s well being
The Goddard School of Federal WayMy daughter has had such a beautiful experience here. The teachers are caring, patient, and truly dedicated to the children. A very special thank you to Miss Inna—she is so kind, loving, and caring. She makes my daughter feel safe and happy every day, and that means everything to me as a mom. 🥹
The Goddard School of Federal WayOur Kindergartener attended Goddard for pre-school and Pre-K and it was a great experience. The staff was amazing and the educators were incredible. Now Kindergarten at a different school, our kid continue to thrive today and is doing exceptionally well, and we definitely give a lot of that credit to Goddard. We…
The Goddard School of Federal WayOne of my friends’ children had a great experience here. Their team really deserves appreciation for their excellent work. 😊
The Goddard School of Federal WayThe Goddard school of federal way is very welcoming and they treat you like family. I love how supportive they are. And very understanding.. They have lots of respect and patience with the kiddos they serve
The Goddard School of Federal WayThis is our second time enrolling our two little ones at Goddard, and we truly love this place. We feel so lucky to have found a warm, structured, and safe environment that gives us complete peace of mind knowing our kids are in good hands. The staff and our son’s teachers have been wonderful—so caring and genuinely…
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of special education schools).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
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| 1 | Jungle Driving SchoolAtkins, IA | A 97How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%97+56.9Reliability 26%94+24.5Value 15%100+15.2Experts Score= 97Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA–AA– | 5.00 | — |
| 2 |  Walde Firth Orthodontic SpecialistsWashington, MO | A 86How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%91+57.8Reliability 28%87+24.6Replies to reviews 8%43+3.5Experts Score= 86Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AC | 4.90 | — |
| 3 |  Little Sunshine's Playhouse of Lake St. LouisWashington, MO | A 82How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%85+58.8Reliability 31%76+23.4Experts Score= 82Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AB––A– | 4.85 | — |
| 4 | A 81How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%79+43.1Reliability 24%82+19.9Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%56+4Craft & service penalty95−0.5Experts Score= 81Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BAAAAC | 4.69 | — | |
| 5 |  Gracie Barra WashingtonWashington, MO | B 71How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%84+58.2Reliability 31%71+21.8Craft & service penalty15−8.5Experts Score= 71Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | ABF–A– | 4.88 | — |
| 6 | The Goddard School of Federal WayFederal Way, WA | B 69How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%68+37.1Reliability 24%58+14.1Value 14%79+11.2Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Momentum penalty96−0.4Experts Score= 69Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BC–BAA | 4.67 | — |
| 7 |  Vocational Transition CenterLubbock, TX | B 61How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%64+44.3Reliability 31%53+16.3Experts Score= 61Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BC––A– | 4.64 | — |
| 8 | Four Oaks - Jane Boyd Community HouseAtkins, IA | B 60How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%58+36.8Reliability 28%82+23.2Replies to reviews 8%6+0.5Experts Score= 60Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | CA––AF | 4.45 | — |
| 9 |  Birth To Three Developmental CenterFederal Way, WA | B 60How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%60+38.1Reliability 28%71+20Replies to reviews 8%20+1.6Experts Score= 60Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BB–––D | 4.72 | — |
| 10 |  Federal Way Public Schools, Educational Service Center (ESC)Federal Way, WA | C 55How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%60+38.1Reliability 28%55+15.5Replies to reviews 8%20+1.6Experts Score= 55Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BC––AD | 4.46 | — |
| 11 |  Capri CollegeAtkins, IA | C 48How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%42+22.9Reliability 24%49+11.9Value 14%96+13.6Replies to reviews 7%29+2.1Momentum penalty79−2.1Experts Score= 48Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | CC–ABD | 4.48 | — |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
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Special Education Schools at a glance
How the 11 special education schools we rated compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A436%
- Grade B545%
- Grade C218%
- Grade D00%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up218%
- 4.80–4.89★218%
- 4.60–4.79★436%
- Below 4.60★327%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality327%
- Professionalism545%
- Responsiveness00%
- Punctuality00%
- Value327%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price5456%
- Reasonable3638%
- Overpriced33%
- Not sure33%
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.