Enhancement Services: Career Development

The Vanguard School’s Lower, Middle and Upper Schools provide students with a unique blend of social and “life-readiness” skills so that students become productive members of society. For nearly 50 years, our Career Development program has positioned us at the cutting edge for special education innovation, elevating our institution to a higher graduation rate than the national average.

Lower School

Our Lower School provides students with career education through hands-on activities and field trips that culminate in an ever-changing variety of Career Day speakers in April. Speakers in the past have represented such careers as a biologist, zoo keeper, dental hygienist, truck driver, fireman and policeman among others.

Middle and High Schools

Our Middle and Upper School offer students career education and the opportunity to work on or off campus in paid and unpaid training opportunities. Students can participate in job shadowing, career exploration, community based vocational training and work experience in competitive employment. They can also be involved in community service projects on and off campus. Students thus have the opportunities to explore and identify career interests and strengths and to develop social skills that are important in the workplace. In the 2007-2008 school year, 124 students benefited from on and/or off campus work prorams. In the High School when all training programs inclguding Vo-Tech are combined, 91% of the students have had some type of vocational experience.

Results in the Workforce

For nearly 50 years, Vanguard has been at the cutting edge for special education innovation, elevating our institution to a higher graduation rate than the national average. In 2008, our 4% unemployment rate among graduates was significantly lower than the national unemployment rate of 5% that includes non-special needs students (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Our work-study program continually receives high ratings and produces productive members of society.

Approximately 93% of alumni from the classes of 2005 through 2007 were contacted for the 2008 recent graduate survey. Results show that students are involved in clerical, hotel, food service, light assembly, teacher's aides, tutors, maintenance work, warehousing, stock and other various jobs. The survey revealed that our graduates have entered the workforce into the following fields:

• 19% Food Service
• 31% Sales and Distribution
• 31% Service Industry
• 48% of the respondents received further training in college, Vo-Tech, or other post-secondary programs
  

*96% of the respondents employed reported earning more than minimum wage