Top Special education schools in Rockville, United States

We are so pleased with the Katherine Thomas School. They are extremely strengths-focused and positive in their approach. Our daughter is making great progress there and feels comfortable and confident in the school environment. We are very grateful!

My daughter has a severe processing delay and dyslexia. She is doing great at the Katherine Thomas School. She started there at the beginning of sixth grade after transferring from a special ed classroom in MCPS (these MCPS programs only run through elementary school). The learning at KTS is paced so that my daughter can keep up and thrive academically. She feels confident in herself which is really important to me. The staff is great with the kids and very professional. They offer a lot of fun after school programs like Girls on the Run or Basketball.

The Katherine Thomas School (KTS) is a transformative community where students with learning differences thrive. Led by Executive Director Dr. Patricia Ritter and a dedicated leadership team—Chief Financial Officer Suellyn Sherwood, High School Director Rhona Schwartz, and Lower and Middle School Director Dr. Nicole Abera—KTS fosters confidence, resilience, and independence through inclusive, personalized programs.

Every member of the KTS team is awesome, from educators to therapists to support staff, all working tirelessly to empower students to excel academically and in life. As proud parents, we cannot thank you enough for your unwavering dedication and life-changing service.

THANK YOU!!

As a student who goes to this school I will give this a 10 out of 10

My four year old LOVES attending school each day. He is happy and safe. He is very speech delayed and after just a few weeks is making improvements. We’re so glad he’s here!

Our child attended KTS starting in 4th grade. We are so impressed with his progress and confidence since attending. The staff care and are dedicated. Couldn't ask for a better educational experience.

Wonderful School! Kind, compassionate, and dedicated teachers. My son has made tremendous progress since attending KTS. Highly recommended.

Most of the kids who drop negative reviews are probably not following the program. This place is great for kids with a variety of behavioral issues, Therapists are provided free within the program, with sessions once a week. Most teachers are experienced with disorderly kids. The few downsides is that change happens at a snails pace, and administration can be known to make mistakes. I do recommend this place for people who have problems going to a regular school. RICA sure helped me turn myself around, and it can help your child too.

I could write a year long essay of everything that's wrong with this place. The only good things here I'd say are the free lunches and providence with people who have low-income, but ultimately this school is a wreck. The insides are disgusting, some of the staff themselves act like the kids sometimes it's insanity. Confidentiality is a complete joke here so you can forget that. This school ultimately does more harm then good. Sure, they "helped" me with my anxiety and depression by shoving pills down my throat and in a short sum of things telling me to forget about my trauma instead of trying to overcome it. At the same token this school has also left scars, and got me with the wrong group of people. I followed the system but the system has failed me. Honestly if anything this school left me with more self destruction then when I started.

As the director of a private mental health practice in Northern Virginia, parents frequently asked about programs and school placements for their children -- the Katherine Thomas School is always high on my list. I have especially been impressed with their early intervention preschool program and their high school program for teens with high functioning autism (formerly known as Asperger's). Keep up the great job KTS!

Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D
Founder and Director
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Ashburn Psychological and Psychiatric Services

Was the best thing my mother ever did for me.