Ketchum Grande Memorial School

Day Program and Residential Students attend our on-campus school, Ketchum Grande Memorial School. The school was established in 1980 and is approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) as an Article 89 school. Instruction is based on NYSED learning standards, assessments, and curriculums that guide our intensive special education program designed to prepare students to pass Regents examinations through grade level courses and earn credits toward high school graduation. MORE

The Charlton School 2018-2019 Report Card

This year, as part of our commitment to continuous progress at the Charlton School, we engaged in a comprehensive review of our program and student progress. We are pleased to report that on several indicators, we’ve had a very successful year!

 

More specifically, we had a 100% passing rate for all January Regents exams, and in June, we had a 100% passing rate in Global History and ELA. We also had impressive passing rates in US History (86%), Algebra I (80%) and Living Environment (71%). This of course is very exciting because of the significant challenges that our students have had to overcome to arrive at the Charlton School. Congratulations to our students and their teachers for their hard work and commitment to academic success!

 

We are also very proud to announce that all eligible Senior students graduated with a Regents Diploma! Of those seniors, 80% of them will attend college in the fall, and 20% will seek employment. Again, given the challenges that our students have faced in their academic careers, this is an impressive statistic and one for which the students should be applauded!

 

We also followed all students who exited the Charlton Program during the 2018-19 school year, and are happy to report that 63% of these exits could be considered positive outcomes. Positive outcomes include a return to district, a return to a less restrictive setting, graduation, college, and/or employment. Again, given the challenges our students have faced, we are very proud of their persistence and eventual success.

 

Congratulations to our students and staff!

The School Day | Classified Students | The Transition to Home

The School Day

The school day conforms to the typical requirements of public schools for students in eighth to twelfth grade. The use of a high school model assists students to better transfer new school skills, values, habits, and routines to their home schools.

The Charlton School/Ketchum Grande follows the statewide annual calendar through a 12-month program comprised of a 40-week school year and six week summer school. The hours of instruction are from 8:00am to 2:30pm, Monday to Friday. Normative student behaviors such as arriving on time, being prepared for class, completing homework, and consistently giving the best effort are encouraged through structured reinforcement. Counseling is readily available to help students acquire and practice coping strategies and process feelings that arise during the school day. MORE

Classified Students

Courses and activities are fully accessible to all students with 100% inclusion of classified students with non-classified peers. School counseling is a related service that is provided by a school psychologist through individual and group sessions and speech. Language therapy is available as required. The school assists referring school districts with the IEP process and takes the lead in assessing learning difficulties.

The Charlton School/Ketchum Grande is fully integrated with other programs of The Charlton School, ensuring a comprehensive approach to treatment, care, and the personal development of students. Students who have extended residential placements transition to co-enrollment at the local high school when deemed ready. Vocational/technical education opportunities may also be arranged.

The Transition to Home

The Charlton School/Ketchum Grande maintains communication with each student’s home school guidance counselor or other contact persons through interim reports and report cards, CSE contacts and, as discharge nears, the Aftercare Services of The Charlton School. At discharge, faculty provide reports by subject area that are forwarded to the home school to be shared with teachers and school counselors.

Discharge summaries smooth the transition back to public school and home by providing detailed and current information about student learning and behavior. Other information may also be shared such as writing samples, science lab reports, and psycho-educational records.

The Day School

In response to the growing number of psychologically and emotionally fragile students with special education needs, The Charlton School/Ketchum Grande was approved by the NY State Education Department as an 853 Special Education School in April 2005. We welcome non-resident students in the 8th-12th grade to our respected day program where they benefit from the same intensive special education and treatment programs delivered to residential students. School districts may now refer students classified for special education directly to The Charlton School/Ketchum Grande. MORE
Equine Therapy
Expressive Arts
Community Service

Acts of giving and service to others strengthen self-respect and esteem, so Charlton students are encouraged to participate in a variety of community service activities such as volunteering at the local consignment/thrift shop or generously donating time at a nearby nursing home or animal shelter.

Mature and responsible individuals are also invited to work or volunteer with our students on-campus as tutors and visitation resources, or to provide supervised activities off campus.

Horticulture
The Horticulture Program teaches students the basic responsibilities and skills associated with plant germination, nurturance, and care. The program uses our greenhouse and the science labs to prepare students and the plants for maturity and readiness to thrive in other environments. The plants eventually move to our many outdoor gardens, just as the students return to their homes, schools, and communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the campus school give the customary State exams?

Yes, The Charlton School/Ketchum Grande school administers Regents Exams and Regents Competency Tests (RCTs) and most students pass their Regents exams.

Will the coursework count toward high school graduation?

The credits granted toward meeting graduation requirements are accepted by home school districts toward issuing their high school diplomas.

What about SATs, ACTs, and college admissions?

The school works with local districts to have our students take these standardized pre-admission exams at the usual times of the school year. Our guidance counselor works with home school guidance counselors and families to facilitate college admissions.

Are the courses the same as my daughter was taking at her home school?

Ketchum-Grande, the campus school of The Charlton School, is approved by the New York State Education Department to provide grade level courses similar to those offered in public schools.