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Thayer Campus

Framingham High School

Thayer’s Mission

It is the mission of Thayer Campus to provide

• ur students with a small, safe, and caring

environment that encourages academic achievement, personal growth, and a sense of

• responsibility. Our school is built around the

belief that mutual respect is essential to our students’ success.

Thayer’s Evolution

• Founded in 1989 as a single classroom program
• Originally focused on approximately 10 students with

learning disabilities and/or behavioral problems

• Initial goal was as an alternative within the district to

reduce outside placement of students

• Program quickly grew into multiple classrooms;

initially located at FHS and then later at Mass Bay

• Moved to its current location in 1995, as a satellite

campus of FHS and named Thayer Campus Alternative High School after then Superintendent Eugene Thayer

Thayer Facts

• Full school day of 5.5 hours of instruction
• Maximum enrollment of 60 students
• 9.6 FTE Staff includes:
• Program Coordinator
• 1.0 Social Worker
• 4.4 Classroom Teachers
• 1.0 Special Educator
• 1.0 Assistant Teacher
• 1.0 Secretary
• 0.2 Nurse

School Profile

• Anticipated full enrollment of 60 students in

2018-19

• Thayer’s enrollment includes students both

with and without IEPs

• Thayer is not a therapeutic setting for

students with severe emotional needs

• Due to the work study component, students

are required to be at least 16 years old

Student Profile

• Thayer serves students who are in danger of

dropping out or have withdrawn from school and wish to return

• Have experienced academic difficulties in the

traditional high school setting often due to emotional issues such as anxiety and depression

• Have a history of chronic absenteeism/tardiness
• Employment is necessary for family support and

interferes with regular school attendance

Referral and Enrollment

• Vice Principals at FHS prioritize a list of

potential referrals based on input from Counselors, Support Programs, Special Ed, and EL Departments

• FHS principal or designee contacts Thayer

Coordinator with recommendations

• Coordinator of Thayer Campus, schedules

referral interviews with all students and parents prior to being enrolled

Philosophy and Goals

• Every student possesses the potential to

achieve and experience growth in learning

• Help our students make their thinking more

visible and maximize their potential.

• Help students achieve their goals by providing

a safe collaborative environment in which students begin to identify and utilize their strengths.

Expected Outcomes

• Thayer expects students to show an

improvement in school attendance and academic performance.

• Self-esteem should also increase along with

appropriate behaviors along with communication skills and coping skills.

• Success in the classroom and ultimately

graduation from high school

Program of Studies

• English, Creative Writing
• Social Studies: U.S. History, World History, Economics
• Science: Earth Science, Biology, Astronomy, Chemistry
• Math: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Consumer

Math

• Career Dynamics: Life Skills and Careers
• MCAS remediation as needed
• School to Work Study Program, where students can

gain additional academic credits and a paid work experience

Thayer Accommodations

• Modified schedules to fit individual academic

requirements and life situations

• Smaller classroom settings and lower teacher

to student ratios

• Optional personalized online learning

platforms and curriculum for credit recovery

• Classes are offered by semester
• School to Work Study offers a chance to earn

credits and an income

Successes

• Thayer just completed its 30th year.
• The program is well-established and known

for its unique approaches to alternative education

• Thayer graduated 26 students this year and

nearly 1,000 since its inception in 1988

• Reduction in drop out rate as students are

willing to remain in school longer with an attainable goal in sight

Challenges

• There still exists a level of misconception

about who we are and the work that we do within the district

• The community’s own assumptions about the

students who attend Thayer Campus

• Chronic absenteeism and/or tardiness
• Transient nature of many students