Parents of children who have special educational needs will find several private schools in the central Richmond region that offer these programs. Some schools focus on a particular need while others offer special education or alternative education for a range of developmental problems. Both day and residential treatment programs are available.

All schools listed below have obtained licenses from the State Board of Education. For additional information, contact these specialists at the Virginia Department of Education: Carolyn White Hodgins, 225-4551, regarding private day schools; or call Michele Myers Hopkins, 225-2725, for residential schools. Lists of all currently licensed special education schools are available on the Virginia Department of Education's Web site at www.pen.k12.va.us.

Schools accredited through the Virginia Council for Private Education are noted with a star (*), if marked withtwo stars (**), the school is undergoing the accreditation process.

The list below, which includes schools that returned a form to be listed, gives basic information for schools in this order: Name of school, address; day/residential school; type of school; year school was founded; current enrollment; student-to-teacher ra-tio; grade levels or age of students; tuition range; mission statement; phone number and Web site.

*Bermuda Run Educational Center, 455 Old Wagner Road, Petersburg, 23805. Day school; special education, ED, LD; 1991; 43; 4:1; ages 6-22. Focus: Serves emotionally disabled, learning disabled and EMH students in a structured, therapeutic educational setting that is designed to prepare students for a successful return to their regular school program. Info: (804) 863-2191; sysva.com.

*Blandford Manor, 230 S. Crater Road, Petersburg, 23803. Day and residential treatment; special education, learning disabilities, emotional disturbance; 1995; 12; 3:1; ages 12-18. Focus: Provides a small, structured, therapeutic residential environment for up to 12 males; the program addresses the emotional and educational needs of seriously emotionally disabled adolescents. Info: (804) 733-2180; sysva.com.

*Charterhouse School, 3900 W. Broad St., Richmond, 23230. Day school and residential treatment; special education, learning disabilities, emotional disturbance; 1979; 60; 8:1; ages 11-18; $135 per day. Focus: School affiliated with United Methodist Family Services. Info: 353-4461; charterhouseschool.org.

*Chattering Children - SPEAK UP, 4001 Springfield Road, Glen Allen, 23060. Day school; auditory - oral or school for the deaf, parent-infant program; 2004; 23; 3:1; ages 3-8 or grades PK-1 and infant programs; $13,000 - $21,000 per year. Focus: We empower children with hearing loss to listen, talk and learn without the use of sign language. Info: 290-0475; chatteringchildren.org.

*Discovery School of Virginia, P.O. Box 1160, 2697 Copper Mine Road, Dillwyn, 23936. Residential treatment; regular and special education for students with learning difficulties, performance/maturation problems, ADD/ADHD and ODD; 1998; 60; 6:1; grades 6-12; $125 per day. Focus: Outdoor residential school offering a structured, nurturing environment that fosters emotional growth, self-control, motivation, accountability and personal success while providing individualized academic instruction. Info: (434) 983-5616; discoveryschool.org.

Dominion Academy, 1002 Wilmer Ave., Richmond, 23227. Day school; autism, special education; 2004; 60; 5:1; K-12 or ages 5-21; $145 per day. Focus: Provides for all areas of special education including autism, developmental delays, mental retardation and emotional disturbances; helps students with multiple disabilities and other health impairments. Info: dominion-academy.com; 2669012.

*Dooley School at Cherokee Road, 7521 Comanche Drive, Richmond, 23225. Day school; special education for students with emotional disorders, specific learning disabilities, mental handicaps, multiple disabilities or other health impairments; 2003; 20; 3:1; K-6; $141 - $163 per day. Focus: To provide special education services to students in a therapeutic, small-group environment. In addition to instruction according to the student's IEP, services include individual counseling and group counseling. Info: stjosephsvilla.net 553-3241.

*Dooley School at St. Joseph's Villa, 8000 Brook Road, Richmond, 23227. Day school; special education for students with emotional disorders, specific learning disabilities, mental handicaps, multiple disabilities or other health impairments; 1970; 28; 7:1 or 10:2; grades 6-12; $163 per day. Focus: To provide special education services to students in a therapeutic, small-group environment. In addition to instruction according to the student's IEP, services include individual counseling, group counseling, career assessment and vocational training. Info: 553-3241; stjosephsvilla.net.

*Elk Hill Farm Inc., 1975 Elk Hill Farm Road, Goochland, 23063. Residential treatment; special education and step-down alternative school; 1970; 30; 7:1; grades 7-12; $296 per day. Focus: Provides quality education to youth in need of specialized services that help build confidence by teaching students how to learn and succeed. Info: 457-4866; elkhill.org.

*Elk Hill - Harambee Day School, 1975 Elk Hill Farm Road, Goochland, 23063. Day school; special education, learning disabilities; 1992; 25; 7:1; ages 11-18; $108 per day. Focus: provides a quality education to youth in need of specialized services that help build confidence by teaching students how to learn and succeed. Info: 457-4866; elkhill.org.

*Elk Hill - Varina, 8151 Warriner Road, Richmond, 23231. Day school; learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, other health impairment and alternative education; 1999; 30; 8:1; grades 7-12; $136 per day. Focus: Provides quality education to youth in need of specialized services that help build confidence by teaching students how to learn and succeed. Info: 795-7392; elkhill.org.

The Faison School for Autism, 1325 Palmrya Ave., Richmond, 23227. Day school; autism; 1999; 55; ages 2-22. Focus: School offers educational services for children with autism and a new life-skills and employment center for young adults, ages 16-22. Info: 827-3801; thefaisonschool.org.

*Grafton School, 4100 Price Club Blvd., Midlothian, 23112. Day school and residential group homes; mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders, developmental disability diagnoses and other mental health diagnoses, emotional disorders; 1958; 70; 3:1 but varies; ages 5-21. Focus: Grafton creates solution-focused opportunities for individuals challenged by complex disabilities. Info: grafton.org; 674-8888.

Hampton Roads Youth Center, 275 Kenyon Road, Suffolk, 23434. Coed residential school for social, emotional problems; 2003; 18; 6:1; ages 11-17; $376 per day. Focus: Provides a positive therapeutic environment for students experiencing social, emotion and family problems that are preventing them from being successful. Info: (757) 923-4948; hryc.org.

*John G. Wood School at the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, 8716 W. Broad St., Richmond, 23294. Day school; regular education and special education (ED/LD); 1974; 37; grades 6-12; $130. Focus: John G. Wood school is an independent, nonprofit, accredited alternative middle and high school for children in grades 6 through 12. Info: 270-6566; boyshome.org.

*Metropolitan Day School, 2824 North Ave., Richmond, 23222. Day school; private special education; 1995; 70; 5:1; grades K-12. Focus: An intensive, highly structured school tailored to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities and emotional disturbance through a comprehensive array of services designed to address physical, emotional social and educational needs. Info: 321-2595; metropolitandayschool.com.

*The New Community School, 4211 Hermitage Road, Richmond, 23227. Coed day school; college prep for students with dyslexia; 1974; 96; 3:1; grades 6-12; $20,800 - $21,900. Focus: Offering college preparation for dyslexic students with averageto above-average intelligence through a program that includes intensive remediation of language skills and challenging academic study. Info: 266-2494; tncs.org.

Newhaven Academy, 2409 Bainbridge St., Richmond, 23225. Day school for male students; special education and emotional disturbance; 1995; 16 maximum; 3:1; grades 6-9 or ages 11-16. Focus: Servicing an all-male student body with specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances and other health impairments. Info: 2303057; newhavenacademy.com.

*Northstar Academy, 8055 Shrader Road, Richmond, 23294. Coed day school; special education; 1996; 100; 8:1; grades K-12; $13,850 - $16,500. Focus: To provide specialized instruction in a structured, nurturing environment to students who have difficulty learning in typical school settings and with traditional teaching methods. Info: northstaracademy.net; 747-1003.

*Oakland School, Union Mills Road, Boyd Tavern, Keswick, 22947. Day school and residential treatment; Learning disabilities; 1950; 85; 5:1; ages 7-14. Focus: To provide remediation for students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Teaching reading and study skills is a specialty. Full curriculum including daily physical education. Info: (434) 293-9059; oaklandschool.net.

*Riverside School Inc., 2110 McRae Road, Richmond, 23235. Day school; learning disabilities, dyslexia; 1974; 75; grades 1-8; $17,500. Focus: To provide a multi-sensory education for children with specific learning differences in grades 1-8. Riverside offers 1:1 reading and language instruction. Info: riversideschool.org; 3203465.

*Sarah Dooley Center for Autism at St. Joseph's Villa, 8000 Brook Road, Richmond, 23227. Day school; special education for students with autism; 2006; 23; 1:1; K-12; $285 per day. Focus: To assist local school systems and families by providing academic and life skills education to prepare students with autism for independence and quality of life. Info: 521-5571 sarahdooleycenter.org.

Spiritos School for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Delay, 400 Coalfield Road, Midlothian, 23113. Day school; early intervention, ABA, developmental therapies; 2002; 10; 1:1; ages 2-12. Focus: School uses both ABA and sensory-integration treatment methods for children with autism; emphasis placed on the development of functional verbal behavior. Info: 897-7440; spiritosschool.com.