Gallishaw High School

The Gallishaw High School is an approved public special education day school that provides comprehensive educational services to students in grades 9 through 12 who have had difficulties participating in a general education public school setting. The Gallishaw High School offers two 220-day curricular strands, each serving a unique population of students. 

The School-to-Career curricular strand 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 multimodal and specialized teaching strategies for all learners. Integrated into the program and its curriculum are experiences that stress connections to the “real world and real life.” These components include deep learning, project-based learning, STEAM themes and techniques, remedial assistance and academic support, inclusion opportunities and supports, credit recovery, job development, internships, certificate programs, and partnerships with technical training institutes and colleges. Our mission is to provide equitable opportunities that educate, challenge, and encourage students’ talents and ability levels while developing skills required for adapting and succeeding in an ever-changing society. The five School-to-Career classrooms have an average enrollment of 7 to 10 students and students are supported with a 1:3 staff to student ratio.

The Functional Curriculum strand provides educational services to students 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 participate as fully as possible in all areas of life. We work 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 support provided by embedded professional development, technical assistance and a network of expert consultants. The functional curriculum classroom has an average enrollment of 6 to 8 students and students are supported with a 1:2 staff to student ratio.