State-Of-The-Art High School For Students With Learning Differences Opens In San Mateo
SAN MATEO (KPIX 5) -- A new high school using high-tech tools and programs designed for students with learning differences has opened on the Peninsula this week – a college-preparatory school for kids who might otherwise have struggled in a traditional school.
For junior Jasmine Wong at Compass High School in San Mateo, school used to be a nightmare.
"In the past, I've never really fit in. But when I come here, I feel like I belong here," said Jasmine Wong. "I have trouble socially. I don't do well in large groups of people."
"[Jasmine is] like a lot of our students," said Compass Executive Director Rachel Wylde. "Very bright and talented, who have had a really bad experience in a past school."
That's because every student at Compass High faces their own unique learning challenge. "So our students are students with learning disabilities and high-functioning autism," said Wylde.
The school was founded in 2012 by a group of parents and educators who saw there was a need for curriculum specifically designed for students with learning differences. It leased facilities in Redwood Shores before moving to their permanent site in San Mateo.
Compass was designed to be an antidote for the one-size-fits-all experience. Here, classrooms have as few as five students - and teachers build lessons specifically tailored for each one of them.
"We look at our individual student's needs and bring to them something that works well for them," said Wylde.
The school has adopted use of cutting-edge software that can tell where a student is struggling and how a teacher can help. "We just present it in a particular way that is catered to the needs of our particular students," said teacher Kate Guillory.
But that specialized curriculum doesn't mean lowered expectations."We have very high expectations for our students - but have a very non-traditional way to get there," said Wylde.
A big part of that is getting each student to find what works best for them. "We really focus on strategies," said Guillory."You know, what are the physical things you can do to make that goal a reality."
And when something doesn't work … "I don't ever get judged – at all," said Wong.
"These kids are completely capable, they're capable of achieving so much," said Guillory. "All we're doing is giving them the tools to do that."