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.

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.