Demographics

Cedar Chapel Special School, located in rural Snow Hill, Maryland, prepares students with moderate and severe disabilities between the ages of 3 to 21 to be included in regular schools, to be gainfully employed, and to be self-sufficient in the home and community. The dynamic staff of Cedar Chapel Special School includes a principal, a curriculum resource teacher, ten classroom teachers, thirteen educational assistants, a music and art teacher, a physical education and aquatics teacher, a school nurse, a part-time tech coach, and related service personnel consisting of physical, occupational and speech therapists. A school secretary manages the office and a custodial staff of two employees maintains the building. A teacher and an educational assistant are based in the inclusion program at Snow Hill High School that is located two blocks away.

The current enrollment is 44 students. Students participate in such activities as Special Olympics, Science Fair, Book It, Christmas Parades, Tech Fest, Fine Arts Festival, music programs, various inclusion opportunities, and vocational training in school and out in the community.

Cedar Chapel Special School participates in Alternate Maryland School Assessment, (Alt-MSA), the alternate assessment for students with disabilities.  Following the guidelines of the Voluntary State Curriculum, reading, math and science skills are assessed based on daily individual instruction. The staff is very proud of its assessment results as scores continue to be above the state average each year.

Cedar Chapel Special School fosters an environment of change through a Strategic Planning Process of School Improvement guided by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The plan is focused around three objectives: to improve student performance, access community resources and demonstrate career-planning skills. Each member of the Strategic Planning Team serves on an action team. The action team is responsible for developing activities to meet the objectives and overseeing the implementation of the action plan. The teams meet monthly to monitor the plan, give feedback and make any necessary recommendations for changing the plan to the Strategic Planning Team.

The school is committed to building positive relations and collaboration with parents and community. An active School Improvement Advisory Committee works with the school to address the school's needs and to help with fund raisers that support school activities and events. In addition, Cedar Chapel Special School continues school partnerships with the Snow Hill Area Schools, Salisbury School and Stephen Decatur Middle School by participating in peer activities created to foster appropriate social opportunities as well as business partnerships with business owners, to support fund raising, student activities, and vocational experiences that make a difference in the lives of our students.

Cedar Chapel Special School is a warm, nurturing environment where everyone is committed to providing the best opportunities for students to learn.

Mission Statement
Cedar Chapel Special School, a unique, alternative learning environment, empowers all students to become responsible life-long learners, productive citizens, and contributing members of society. We will accomplish this through excellence in teaching, partnerships with family and community, and celebration of diversity.

School Highlights and Awards
Accreditation For Growth, Middle States Association, Alt-MSA scores are above state averages, Student recognition in various art entries, Tech Fest County and State Winners, International Student Media Festival Winners (2001), Christmas Float Winner, Special Olympics Gold, Silver and Bronze Winners, Science Fair Winners, Award for Excellence in Education (Community Foundation), Mrs. Victoria Radford, 2007 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, Maryland Center for Character Education School of the Year Award, and Green Ribbon Award for PBIS.

Special Programs
Structured Teaching using the TEACCH principles, Special Olympics, Aquatics, Music, Art, Adaptive Physical Education, Sensory Integration, Project Greenhouse, Positive Behavior Intervention School (PBIS)

After School Programs
Training for Special Olympics-Soccer, Skating, Skiing, Basketball, Swimming, Track and Field, Bocce

Parent Involvement Opportunities
SIAC, Strategic Planning Team, Fund Raisers, Volunteer Program, Parent Workshops