Bronxville vs Ardsley special education (Eastchester: elementary school, vs., moving)

[bostonmommoving]

Hi
I am looking for advice from people familiar with the special education in the public elmentary schools in Ardsley and Bronxville. We will be moving and I have it narrowed down to these two districts. My son is 7 with PDD- nos and high functioning, mainstreamed with an aide and is in desperate need of learning social skills to interact normally with other children. He is very bright academically although he functions better in a small group he does much better mainstreamed since he copies other children's behaviors.
I have heard Bronxville is good but no specifics??
I have hear Ardsley in not as good if your child is mainstreamed and is better in the separate classrooms??
Any advice would be very much appreciated!!
Thanks

[mclairch]

Both my oldest boys were in Ardsley for Kindergarten and 1st grade. Both have IEPs. My oldest was completely mainstreamed with some reading resource. He did well there. My youngest has no cognitive delays but lots of social/emotional/sensory stuff that was at first dx as PDD-NOS but has since be un-dx (if that makes any sense) to a more amorphous generalized anxiety disorder. He partially mainstreamed the first year and then in the Emotional Support Program the second- which is essentially a mainstreamed placement with extra social/emotional supports at various point during the day. He'd start out in the ESP program room and go over his goals and schedule for the day for about 10 minutes and then go with another boy to their assigned mainstream room supported by an aide. There they would stay for the remainder of the day with the support of the aide doing all the same curriculum and specials as the non-classified kids. Then the last 10 minutes of the day they'd check back in with the ESP staff and debrief about the day. So my limited perspective is about mainstreamed kids. I'd say Ardsley does an outstanding job with mainstreamed kids, particularly with social/emotional learning. They also do a great job educated all the student popular about social skills. I would think you would find Ardsley a good fit. I don't have any 1st or 2nd hand knowledge about Bronxville's special education services although their general ed program is highly regarded as I am sure you already know. Good luck!

[moxiecat]

Although I don't know specifics about PPD, I do know firsthand that Bronxville has a very caring and nurturing student environment and children who are in Special Ed programs become well adjusted as they mainstream into the general student population. I know children there who have been classmates with the special ed students - the Bronxville teachers integrate an education on sensitivity by building awareness about particular needs. This article is an example of the pride shown by the elementary school children actively advocating their awareness.

Bronxville Fifth-Grade Students Make Autistic Students Feel Welcome in School Environment

Building and maintaining social skills is a big part of the town and school community with a lot of beneficial influences like volunteering that cross over from parental involvement and community service.

[pamisue64]

I'd love some further information on the Ardsley vs. Bronxville issue as we have similar needs for our son. Just wondered which district integrates more of a social skills curriculum into their district? And does anyone know if any of the districts in Westchester aside from Eastchester uses the Michelle Dunn model?

thanks!