Griswold Alternative High School

Griswold Alternative School, located at 1553 Glasgo Road, is a unique program designed to provide services within the district to students who have had minimal success in the traditional educational environment, due to emotional or behavioral concerns. The program currently serves high school students in grades 9 through 12.

Profiles of the students referred to this program are varied. Many have been observed as at-risk, discouraged or unmotivated, with documented histories of poor attendance or multiple failures despite a range of instruction and attempted interventions.

The low student/teacher ratio allows for a specialized, structured educational environment that combines modified teaching strategies with individualized behavioral support, consistent expectations and clear boundaries. The staff includes an experienced team of professionals including certified Special Education Teachers and a full-time School Psychologist. This team works closely with students, their families, and related service agencies to effectively address the complex needs of this student population. Individual and group counseling are provided to each student to address serious issues that interfere with learning.

The program provides organizational and study skills development as part of an interdisciplinary approach to the curriculum. The curriculum offered by the Alternative School program is designed to meet the academic needs of the individual student, blending regular education curriculum with modified teaching strategies. Integrated into the program and its curriculum are community service activities and community interaction experiences that stress the connections to "real life". This approach includes a hands-on, project-based format of instruction encouraging learning through exploration and experience to increase learning, participation, and motivation. In addition, Alternative High School students may be eligible for community work-study opportunities, and elective classes at the high school may be available for select students. Griswold High School graduation requirements and district-wide exit standards are addressed through the curriculum of the alternative program.

For most students this is designed to be a relatively short-term placement that encourages transition back to the mainstream. The main focus of the staff's effort is to provide each individual student with an opportunity to explore and modify behaviors, attitudes, and skills deficits that have deterred academic and personal success in the traditional education setting. Students who commit themselves to the principles of the program and demonstrate adequate progress will be recommended to rejoin the mainstream as soon as is deemed appropriate. We hope to facilitate change by providing instruction, guidance and support that will impact their actions and decision-making processes. It is our goal to offer Griswold students an alternative educational placement designed to facilitate improvement in school adjustment and stimulate success in school performance.