By Elizabeth Python, Director of Placement. This article was originally published in the Winter 2019 issue of Gaynor Gazette.
You might be thinking, “It’s my student’s last year at Gaynor – OH NO!” No need to panic! Once the final year at Gaynor begins, families are guided through every aspect of the placement process. The cycle of placement is well established and time tested, with a timeline keeping all team members on schedule; the process is unique to each student. The individualized approach Gaynor provides each student in the classroom is the same approach we use in placement. What “fits” for one student may not “fit” for another, even if they have followed similar trajectories through Gaynor’s clusters and groups.So what goes into finding the right fit? Let’s break it down:
Some “fit” characteristics are on the surface:- Type of academic environment – continuing special education, mainstream schools with established support programs, mainstream schools, private schools, public schools, and boarding schools.
- Teaching style – traditional or progressive.
- Location – Manhattan, Queens, Westchester, Brooklyn, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or California.
- Commuting distance – a walk down the street, 30 minutes in an Uber, or an hour on the 2 train.
- Cost – is tuition reimbursable? Is financial aid available?
