High Road School of Baltimore County
The High Road School of Baltimore County seeks to build student confidence and competence through personalized attention and instruction, as well as to prepare our students to be independent, successful adults. We achieve these goals through the three main components of our specialized model: Academics, Behavior Interventions & Support, and Transition Services. Students attending the High Road School of Baltimore County work toward transitioning back to a less restrictive environment and/or pursuing a Maryland high school diploma or Certificate of Completion.
Our Students
Students are referred by their school district to attend High Road School and are generally in grades 2–12 (aged 7 to 21). Our school serves students with autism and emotional disabilities.
Our Staff
We are proud to employ certified special education teachers, staff trained in crisis intervention, licensed school social workers, in-home and/or family therapy, a school psychiatrist, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, access physical therapy
High Road School of Baltimore County is a nonpublic education program designed specifically to meet the individualized academic, behavioral, and therapeutic needs of students requiring special education services. Our highly structured program serves students in grades 2–12 (aged 7 to 21) with autism and emotional disabilities. Students are referred to our program by local school districts.
By focusing on key areas — academics, behavior modifications, support services, and transition / life planning services — we are able to meet the individual needs of all students through these varied approaches to instruction. Through collaboration with a student’s IEP team, we are able to choose the most appropriate learning model based on a given student’s present levels of performance, social capabilities, motor coordination, and ability to learn in a group setting.
Utilizing four specific instructional rotations, students are assessed academically, gain self-regulation skills, learn with district-aligned academic curriculums, and utilize integrated technology.
High Road student’s goals and objectives are met through the school day by their Special Educators and School Social Workers. Depending on the students IEP, their service hours are met through Individual Therapy and/or Group Therapy sessions. High Road School staff work closely with families to ensure that their bests interests are being met. Staff are trained in crisis prevention and crisis intervention. Families are notified of their student’s progress through emails, phone calls, parent-teacher conferences, progress reports, report cards and annual IEP meetings.
All of the programming that is designed to transition the student from school to work emphasizes preparation for productive employment after graduation. To make this employment as successful and fulfilling as possible, we help the student explore his or her interests and then build upon natural talents in choosing possible career paths. As students mature, we encourage them to gradually become more self-reliant. Our Transition Services staff aids in this process by giving the students just the right amount of independence and interaction with the wider community, while still providing the supports necessary for the students to feel secure and confident.
Culinary Program
Our ServSafe course discusses a range of topics from food-borne illness, purchasing and receiving guidelines, food preparation, holding, and serving guidelines, food safety management systems, sanitation guidelines for facilities and equipment, and integrated pest control. We also focus on food safety regulations and employee training.
Students who pass the certification tests are awarded with a certificate that is valid for 3 years. This certificate allows students to go to any restaurant or fast food facility with a leg up on others applying for the job. We are very pleased to say that to date we have a 100% pass rate.
ProStart is a two year program for high school students provided through the National Restaurant Association in partnership with the Maryland state education department. The purpose of the ProStart program is to teach our students both the skills and an understanding of the restaurant industry. The students gain the information required for front of the house, business management along with the basic kitchen skills needed. At High Road School, we work alongside the restaurant association to allow our students exposure to the front and back of the house, and a understanding of what it would be like to have a job or career in the restaurant industry. Our main focus is currently is on customer service, teamwork, safety and sanitation and professionalism.
School-to-Work Program
Our School-to-Work Program offers students the opportunity to participate in true-to-life jobs within the school setting. The end goal of the program is to develop the students’ employment skills and social skills in order to maximize their potential for success in the real world. As such, students seek to obtain jobs by first filling out an application and interviewing for the position they are interested in, as they would in real life. Once the student obtains a suitable position at school, they are held accountable for their attendance and performance, so we work with them on such aspects of employment as punctuality, responsibility, and working independently. Many of the jobs the students procure involve our student-run, on-the-premises retail business. Students participating in the School-to-Work Program are trained to operate many of the state-of the-art machines that make customized products for sale through this retail business.
Community Work
The High Road School of Baltimore County affords students the opportunity to take their learning outside of the classroom and transfer it into the community. We work with our students to practice the proficiencies they have mastered in the School-to-Work Program, and then, when a student is ready, a job coach accompanies them to volunteer or paid job sites out in the community. We partner with a wide array of local-area businesses (including restaurants, hospitals, preschools, and retail shops) to expose the students to real-life work experience and social interactions. In this way, students can explore numerous career avenues and gain valuable work experience to list on their résumés.
The High Road School of Baltimore is committed to providing services, programs, and activities that provide opportunities for students to grow both inside and outside of the classroom. As part of that commitment, our school participates in the IAA (Interagency Athletic Association). This sports league is comprised of other nonpublic schools in the area. The league gives students a chance to interact with kids from other schools and to show school pride in their own. Throughout the school year, we compete in three sports:
(1) flag football in the fall;
(2) basketball in winter; and
(3) kickball in spring.
Each sport has its own play-off and crown champions for the season. Participation on these sports teams allows our students not only to cultivate athletic skills, but also to gather experience and learn critical lessons in such areas as teamwork, collaboration, and good sportsmanship. Playing sports in our league is a highly sought after activity at school, so only students who have demonstrated sound judgment and good decision-making skills in school can participate in practices and games.
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Emma Wohkittel
High Road School of Baltimore County
2023-2024 Campus Winner
James Arrington
High Road School of Baltimore County
2023-2024 Campus Winner
