5 Blog Post 5 AHS: Home to more than just students

AHS: Home to more than just students

March 23, 2018

You may know that 1,322 students call Arlington High School home.  But did you also know that Arlington’s state-mandated Special Education inclusion preschool, Arlington Community Education, a few Town of Arlington offices, and other programs also call it home?  Arlington High School has a long history as an important town resource and the large complex serves a wide variety of needs in town.

Preschool and Daycare

  • Menotomy Preschool is an integrated early childhood program for students aged 3-5 years.  Mandated by both the Federal Government and the State of Massachusetts, the preschool serves:
    • 96 special education and general education children
    • 41 additional children who receive early-intervention services
    • AHS students learning about Child Development through the AHS FACS Department (Family & Consumer Science) who spend time in Menotomy classrooms as part of their practical work experience
  • Onsite Daycare employees currently cares for 10 babies.    

LABBB Educational Collaborative Special Education Program

LABBB is a special education collaborative program between the Lexington, Arlington, Burlington, Bedford and Belmont school districts that serves 21 students.  LABBB:

  • educates students who present with intensive cognitive, behavioral, social/emotional, and neurological impairments
  • designs and delivers special education services that promote academic, social and career independence in the most inclusive setting possible
  • requires each participating district to provide programming space

Arlington Community Education

Arlington Community Education (ACE) is an educational partner that uses AHS during off-hours to provide enrichment offerings to students and the community from September through June.   In addition to using AHS for programming, the ACE staff offices are located in the facility.

  • Offerings include after school and evening programming such as enrichment activities, school vacation programs, college test prep classes, driver education, HiSet and ELL tutoring
  • Programs use classrooms, art rooms, the media center, computer labs, woodshop, the ‘Pit’, culinary kitchens, Old Hall, the fitness room, the cafeteria and other spaces
  • A partnership with AHS develops and promotes the High School’s internship, community service, and work study opportunities

Non-Classroom Related Facilities

AHS also has a few common spaces often used by the community:

  • School Committee Meeting Room where bi-weekly public meetings are held
  • 900-seat Lowe Auditorium houses AHS’ strong performing arts program and is also used by the community
  • Two gyms (12,000 sq. feet and 7,000 sq. feet) and a fitness room are used by the community

Arlington Public Schools Administration

AHS serves as the hub of central school administration services including:

  • Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Financial Officer
  • K-12 Department Heads
  • Registrar (Kindergarten and student registration)
  • Directors of Special Education, Health/Wellness, METCO, ELL (English Language Learners), Transportation
  • Business Office/Purchasing
  • Communications, Grants & Title 1
  • Court Liaison/Attendance Officer/Diversion Coordinator/Homeless Liaison
  • Custodial Offices
  • Human Resources
  • School Resource Officer

Combined Town and School Resources

Approximately thirty personnel that serve both the town and school district have offices at AHS.  

  • Information Technology (including Network, Telecom and work rooms)
  • Facilities & Maintenance (including Town workshop)
  • Comptroller & Payroll  

The AHS Building Project is currently in the Feasibility Phase and decisions on where/whether these resources will be housed in the renovated/rebuilt High School are currently under discussion.  

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