Students who wish to participate in extra curricular activities may not have the opportunity at a special education school. Most of these specialized educational institutions do not offer sports, and only offer a limited array of other extra curricular options. Students who attend special education schools and wish to participate in a sport can often join the team at the school that they would normally attend, but the parents must provide transportation to and from practices. Also, the student will likely not know the other team members, so he may feel isolated and unwelcome.
The array of interesting electives available at many schools are not commonly found in special education schools. The emphasis in these schools is on equipping students with basic knowledge. This daunting task does not leave much room for courses that provide enjoyable enrichment. If a student would like to study art or participate in a specialized trade program, he may be better served by attending a traditional school where it is more likely that programs of interest to him will be offered.
Students who attend special education schools can go on to higher education if they wish, but they will likely have more difficulty with the high-level courses. At special education schools, pupils are commonly taught the skills necessary to successfully graduate and obtain a job, not the skills that are required to succeed in an institution of higher education. Very rarely do these schools offer college-bound coursework that is designed to prepare students to advance beyond high school. Students who attend special education schools also have less experience in learning independently, as they are commonly assisted one-on-one more frequently than standard students. This lack of experience in self-guided learning can present a problem if the student attempts to continue with his education.
While one of the benefits of a special education school is that students are educated with pupils who have the same or similar disabilities, this does not mean that students can avoid taunting all together. In some cases the teasing they receive from same-age peers is amplified when the student attends a special education school. Impolite students who live near the special education child may ask the student why he doesn't attend the regular public school, or make statements that indicate that his deficiencies have placed him in a lesser school. This can be difficult for the special education student as, like all youths, they want to fit in, not be ostracized from their peers.