Moscow - School Report Question and Answers
Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
A - My son has some challenges.The school was VERY helpful.He even got to take Occupational Therapy classes once a week during school-time.It was expensive - $2000 for the year, but very helpful.The school counselors are very involved and helpful. - Dec 2012
B. Teachers differentiate pretty well. Not a perfect system. There is a differentiation staff member, but he or she works primarily in the elementary school, not middle or high school. They should get someone for the upper grades as well to support the teacher's efforts, but teachers are trained and very good for the most part, so it's not a big problem. It's just that it could be better. - Nov 2012
B: There is an almost full time differentiation coach at the school to support teachers in meeting the needs of the "high flyers" and there is a support team for kids with challenges. There is a large ESOL team as well, giving "sheltered instruction" in the classroom rather than pull out support. I'd say the support team is a bit overtaxed. As a teacher, I wish there had been another staff member in that department, or even two more, so my students with needs could have had more one on one time, but they did their best and did a good job. If your child is truly has special needs that require a gifted and talented program, I'm not sure the classroom differentiation that's offered in elementary school will feel like quite enough support to challenge them, but it's good. I'd give the school a B for supporting students with challenges, a C in offering support for Gifted students, and a B in ESOL. - Aug 2010
