In Florida, children who have special learning needs are called exceptional students. Exceptional students include students who are gifted and students with disabilities. The special help these students are given at school is called exceptional student education (ESE). The purpose of ESE is to help each child, with an exceptionality, to progress in school and prepare for life after school. Exceptional student education services may include special teaching methods and materials. 

James S. Rickards High School offers a complete curriculum of ESE courses to meet the needs of our students. Courses available to students in our ESE program of studies include: Learning Strategies, full-time Varying Exceptionalities, and Community Based Instruction.