Our Alternative High School (AHS) at West Learning Center is a Regents-based program designed to support at-risk youth in grades 9-12. The program provides a continuous academic pathway to high school graduation and addresses specific risk factors for each unique learner. The AHS common practices and instructional strategies embody the Broome-Tioga BOCES Circle of Six: Safety, Belonging, Purpose, Responsibility, Achievement, and Exploration. Our goal is for all alumni to mature into well-adjusted and successful citizens.
AHS offers content-specific courses in small and supportive classroom settings. Classes offer increased opportunities for differentiation, teacher to student interactions and feedback, student choice, and project-based learning. In addition to a clear academic focus AHS emphasizes the personal wellbeing and social-emotional growth of students. The AHS team applies a problem-solving mindset that encourages creative educational approaches. Additional strategies include the use of restorative practices, community circles, goal setting, individualized support, and student empowerment tools. In addition to content-area teachers, the team includes a school counselor and social worker to support transitions, SEL, counseling services, and other program elements. Our families are valued and essential members of our high school community.
AHS partners with Career and Technical Excellence (CTE) and other community-based agencies to foster a comprehensive career education that includes employment prep skills and other critical life-skills. Work-based learning (WBL) experiences engage students with real-life work opportunities to develop the technical skills to reinforce job readiness and ongoing education.