A positive high school experience can lead to a lifetime of success. For over twenty years, The Brentwood School has provided services to high school students from many educational backgrounds and with unique personal dreams. The goal of the Brentwood School faculty is to instill responsibility for learning in our students by offering quality alternatives which promote social, emotional and academic development. We believe that meaningful learning is best accomplished in small groups where there is trust and sustained caring amongst all members with respect for their diverse aptitudes, abilities, learning styles,backgrounds, and needs. The Brentwood School provides students with instruction in academic skills and needed support to foster not only successful completion of a regular education high school diploma, but also the development of self-reliance, responsibility, and work related and interpersonal/life skills necessary to enter college or obtain full time employment.

The Brentwood School was established in 1980 by the Southeastern Regional Education Service Center (SERESC). The school is designed to meet the needs of learning and emotionally challenged students. Hundreds of students have achieved their high school diplomas from the school. The Brentwood School offers a regular high school diploma requiring 19.75 credits. The Brentwood School is approved as a Special Education Facility and a Private School by the New Hampshire Department of Education.

Admissions Information
The Brentwood School accepts students who have been referred by their school districts. SERESC member school districts include the towns of Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Hampstead, Hooksett, Hudson, Litchfield, Londonderry, Merrimack, Pelham, Timberlane, and Windham. Students from non-member school districts are considered when space is available. The following criteria are used to determine appropriateness of a placement at the Brentwood School:

• The student must be between the ages of 14-21 and enrolled in grades 9-12.
• The student must be identified with a serious emotional disturbance, learning disability and/or other health impairment.
• The student must be safe from presenting a serious physical threat to self and/or others.
• The student must demonstrate average or above average intellectual potential.
• The student must be supported by parents, educational surrogate parents or social agency representatives who will cooperate with the school to meet the individual needs of the student.

Referral Process
After a student is referred by his/her district for consideration of placement at The Brentwood School, an interview will be scheduled with the student, parent (or representative) and the LEA. This interview will take place at The Brentwood School and will be conducted by a Counselor and/or the Principal. If the initial determination is made that the student might benefit from the services of The Brentwood School, he/she will be scheduled for a Full Day Visit. The student will spend a day attending classes and interacting with Faculty and peers. Teachers and Counselors will provide insight as to the appropriateness of the student for the program and the ability of The Brentwood School to meet the needs of the student as outlined in the current Individual Education Plan. If accepted, the student’s team will meet and the student will be placed on a thirty day probationary period. At the end of that time, the Special Education Team will re-convene to determine if the student’s needs are best being met at The Brentwood School. Additional meetings are held throughout the academic year as we believe that communications between school, student, family, and support agencies that are consistent and on-going improve student learning.