Gallishaw High School

The Gallishaw High School, an approved public special education day school, provides comprehensive educational services to children in grades 9-12 who are unable to successfully participate in the public school setting at this time. The Gallishaw High School offers two 220-day curricular strands, each serving a unique population of students.

The school-to-career transition program provides comprehensive educational and therapeutic services for students with social, emotional, behavioral and academic challenges that have inhibited success in school. All students participate in an initial transition assessment and additional screenings in order to develop an individualized learning schedule. The curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and supported by multi-modal and modified teaching strategies for all learners. Integrated into the program and its curriculum are experiences that stress connections to “Real Life.” These components include project-based learning, STEAM themes and techniques, remedial assistance and academic support, inclusion opportunities and supports, credit recovery, job development and internships, certificate programs, and partnerships with technical training institutes and colleges. Our mission is to provide equitable opportunities that educate, challenge, and inspire students’ talents and ability levels while preparing each with skills required for adapting and succeeding in an ever-changing society. The five School-to-Career classrooms have an average enrollment of 7-10 students and students are supported with a 1:3 staff-to-student ratio.

The functional curriculum transition program provides educational services to students between the ages of 14 to 18 years (grades 9-12) with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder, moderate to severe cognitive delays, sensory processing and communication challenges, neuromotor deficits and/or medical and psychiatric challenges. Our mission is to develop skills that will enable students to become productive citizens of their communities and to participate as fully as possible in all areas of life. We seek to increase the skills of the students in the following areas: communication and language, cognitive development, activities of daily living, vocational skills, social relationships, physical education/recreation, positive behavior and community inclusion. Focus is placed on producing desirable outcomes for students such as paid employment and being active, contributing members of the communities in which they live. Educators incorporate research-based best practices with supports provided by embedded professional development, technical assistance and a network of expert consultants. The two functional curriculum classrooms have an average enrollment of 6-8 students and students are supported with a 1:2 staff-to-student ratio.