My sister's family lives in Wappinger's and tney are in Arlington School District.
I'm in Orange County, just north of Rockland. I've been told by people in Dutchess and Ulster that Orange County is better for autism services. We're in the Washingtonville School District and have gotten everything we've asked for -- full-day special ed-preschool (12:1:2), OT and play therapy for my 4-year-old son. Everyone I've come in contact with at the school district has been wonderful.
We're not starting kindergarten until next year, but I hear they also have great inclusion classes. I haven't looked into too much there yet, though. I'm giving myself a break and will start looking into it in January.
My older son is going into high school this year, but while he was in the middle school he was in a few inclusion classes (he's gifted). I don't know too much about special services in the middle school what he's told me, and he said he had no idea who the inclusion kids were, and that the way it was set up, he never even knew it was an inclusion class until I told him later. He just thought there was an extra teacher in the room.
I've also heard Newburgh schools are good for kids with autism. And Monroe-Woodbury is a very highly-regarded district. These are both in Orange County, too.
Good luck!
www.greatschools.net is a great site for checking out test scores, etc, etc....
I have a friend who lives in Cornwall NY(outside of Newburgh)- and she loves it.
Gail
Thanks for the info. I've been looking into Orange County. Maybe a better location for us as well. Anyone know about Pine Bush district. I would also be interested in talking with various special needs groups in the area - ie. Parent to Parent. Any suggestions?My sister's kids graduated from that SD and it's GREAT for NT kids, especially very bright ones. I am not sure about the spec. ed. there, though. Read NY's special ed law by going to www.nysed.com and searching Part 200. Especially read 200.13.
NYC drags down the overall score for NY. NYC will never change. However, the rest of NY does pretty well with IDEA and NCLB. DUchess county is great.The SD you are talking about has lots of kid of IBM'ers there, so there is a lot of emphasis on excellence in education and there's plenty of competition. These kids graduate well-prepared for college. HOwever, I am not sure what their s ed is like.
It looks like we will be moving to NY soon. We are looking at Duchess County. Has anyone had experience with school districts there? Specifically, Wappingers, Arlington, Spackenhill or Hyde Park? Have a 9 year old going into 4th grade who is high functioning, mainstreamed, recieving reading assistance through sped along with various accommodations in gen ed classroom.
With our current district I have had to fight significantly just to recieve the minimum assistance. Obviously I would prefer NOT to go through that again - takes too much of an unnecessary toll on the family. Any suggestions or warnings? Or maybe a better area? I chose this county because it seems to be one we could afford to live in....dh will be commuting to Rockland County.
And what should I know about the special ed system in NY?
I know an ot we dealt with down there.
Arlington, I believe has a FABULOUS pilot program in middle school for kids on the spectrum. She works in it.
She emailed me a few months back and told me....
Gail
Thanks for the input. Woodsman25 - I always greatly appreaciate and welcome the insight of those who have been where my son is now.tzoya - is it Wappingers that you are referring to or one of the others? Thanks for the info.
I moved to NY in 1991 and was in special ed class until 5th grade then I was half mainstreamed and by 6th grade I was out of special ed and completly on my own.