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.