WPS Special Education by the Numbers
Wellesley Public Schools (WPS) serves students ages 3-22. The information below provides a snapshot of how many students receive special education services through IEPs, 504 plans, and specialized programs. Numbers change throughout the year and are shared here for general informational purposes. For the most current publicly reported data, please see the DESE School and District Profiles.
A significant portion of students are on IEPs or 504 Plans
Approximately 1,000 of WPS's roughly 4,000 receive services or accommodations through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan--about 1 in 4 students.
WPS provides services for students ages 3 to 22.
- Over 600 students K-12 are on IEPs.
- More than 200 students K-12 have a 504 Plan.
WPS Students on IEPs by School (as of 10/1/2025)*
The table below shows the number and percentage of students on IEPs at each WPS school as of October 1, 2025. These figures do not include students with 504 plans.
|
School |
# of Students on IEPs |
Total # of Students |
Percentage of Students on IEPs |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bates |
31 |
272 |
11.4% |
|
Fiske |
26 |
263 |
9.9% |
|
Hardy |
59 |
310 |
19% |
|
Hunnewell |
53 |
307 |
17.2% |
|
Schofield |
41 |
274 |
15% |
|
Sprague |
42 |
276 |
15.2% |
|
WMS |
157 |
910 |
17.3% |
|
WHS |
205 |
1,231 |
16.7% |
|
PAWS |
27 |
79 |
34.2% |
|
Total |
641 |
3,922 |
16.3% |
*Please note that enrollment and special education counts fluctuate throughout the year. These data are provided for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the most recently reported numbers reported to DESE.
WPS Students in Specialized Programs
WPS offers seven specialized programs to meet the needs of students who require more intensive support:
- Language-Based Center (LBC) (grades 2-12, Schofield, WMS, WHS);
- Integrated Specialized Services (ISS) (grades K-8, Sprague, WMS);
- Skills (grades K-12, Hardy, WMS, WHS);
- Therapeutic Learning Center (TLC) (grades K-8, Hunnewell, WMS);
- Gateways (grades 9-12, WHS);
- Cornerstones (grades 9-12, WHS); and
- Launch (post-secondary program for ages 18-22).
Placement in a specialized program is determined individually by the student's IEP Team.
|
Elementary |
Middle School |
High School |
Post-Secondary |
|
|
LBC |
5 |
3 |
10 | |
|
ISS |
9 |
10 |
7 | |
|
Skills |
33 |
11 |
7 | |
|
TLC |
17 |
10 |
Cornerstones: 16 Gateways: 30 | |
|
Launch |
13 |
These data have been updated as of December 15, 2025 and include students undergoing extended evaluations. Numbers change throughout the year and are shown here for illustrative purposes only.
For ease of representation, ISS and Skills are represented separately at the high school level. ISS serves students in grades K-8 and merges with Skills for grades 9-12. Within the high school Skills program there are two tracks: one with an ABA focus and the other with an ISS focus. TLC serves students in grades K-8. At the high school level, there are two therapeutic programs--Cornerstones and Gateways--which are reflected in the high school counts above. Launch is the district's post-secondary program for students ages 18-22.
Presentations about Specialized Programs
Wellesley SEPAC partners with the WPS Student Services Office to bring more transparency to the district's specialized programs. Placement in these programs is determined on an individualized basis through the IEP process.
In January, SEPAC and Student Services co-hosted a presentation on the Therapeutic Learning Center (TLC) (K-8) and Launch (post-secondary) programs at Regis College, the new home of the Launch program. Families had an opportunity to learn more about these programs and see the innovative and collaborative work WPS and Regis are doing to provide meaningful post-secondary experiences for students ages 18-22.
We plan to offer similar presentations about other specialized programs in the coming months. Please check the Events page and SEPAC newsletter for upcoming dates.