Windham    

 

 

An Existing Public School Option for Children At Risk!

The REAL School is a model for providing excellent alternative educational opportunities to students at risk.

The REAL School is an adventure-based Alternative school serving students in grades 7-12 experiencing severe behavioral and/or emotional problems in mainstreams school, or who risk dropping out.

 We successfully meet the needs of students from many districts in Southern Maine, who might otherwise be sent to more restrictive institutionalized settings. Referrals must be made by schools, districts, or government agencies.  Door-to-door transportation by school van is available to students.

We offer integrated curriculum, based on the Maine Learning Results Standards, Performance Indicators, and Guiding Principles.  Adventure-Based and Experiential Learning are essential components of our programs. Our students and staff work in teams with individually developed curricula, all based on Maine's Learning Results but delivered through Alternative methods using a hands-on, authentic learning approach, small student/teacher ratio, and individualized learning plans. 

The PLP team - which includes the student, parents, teachers, administrator, school counselor, and other advocates from various outside agencies - determines goals, objectives and strategies for ensuring individual student success.  Included in each student's PLP is a Positive Behavior Support Plan, based on Functional Behavior Assessments.

Elements of Day Treatment programming, Therapeutic Adventure activities, flexible scheduling, and small-group settings are among the approaches utilized at the REAL School. We use authentic learning and authentic assessment to infuse learning with inherent relevance.