I don't have personal experience with private schools for special needs children. My son attends public school... but he is also not non-verbal. I firmly believe, however little experience I have with the subject, that BOTH have their pros and cons.

Let me ask you though... Is your grief because you feel your son is being deprived of the social setting only available in a public school with mainstream students? if so, set that aside entirely and look at your sons behavior in both places.

Where does he seem happier? Who seemed more genuinely invested in your child's education? Which education plan seems to be better fitting for him?

The great thing about Private school especially designed for children with special needs is that the entire staff is more understanding of the students needs. THEIR education was focused on special needs children... Not just a couple of their college classes, but many. They know and understand your child's needs better than public school teachers do. I am not saying ALL public teachers struggle here but many do. Still, for my son, I feel public school at this moment is in his best interest. In the future I plan to home school him. The Middle and High School he is zoned for has a bad reputation for special needs students.

If it's having him mingle with children outside of the special needs community that bothers you, that can easily be addressed through other social outlets, such as play dates or more structured ways like through gymnastics or martial arts, yoga classes and more! Plus these have the added benefits for motor and cognitive skills as well as sensory input.

There's far too many bullies esp in public schools even with healthy children as well as Teachers have become severely bad about being bullies, I fought for 3yrs to keep my son in the same special needs class with the same teachers since I personally know them but now I'm lookin into a private school bc Ive been told they have the best programs for special needs

My son is only 3 but he's in public school prek3
He's in a mixed classed with special needs and "regular kids". Sometimes I think he is picking up bad habits from the other kids but all kids have bad habits. I would say it just depends on the child.