17 Balcom Rd
Pelham, NH 03076

Our family’s experience with this school highlighted serious concerns about communication, student support, and overall school culture.While the school may work well for students who fit easily into a traditional academic structure, families with children who need additional support may struggle to receive appropriate accommodations or collaboration.Requests for help or clarification often required persistent follow-up, and the process frequently felt more focused on procedural compliance than on the well-being of students.Social and emotional support systems also appeared limited. Schools should provide environments where students feel understood, respected, and encouraged. Unfortunately, that was not consistently reflected in our experience.Families considering this school should ask questions about how the district supports students with different learning styles, developmental needs, or emotional support needs before enrolling.

Our family had significant concerns about the overall culture and support systems within this school.While some students may thrive here, families whose children require flexibility, understanding, or additional support may encounter challenges navigating the system. Communication between the school and families can be difficult, and addressing concerns may require persistent advocacy.A strong school community should prioritize student well-being, collaboration with families, and equitable support for all learners. Unfortunately, that balance was not evident in our experience.For families considering enrollment, I recommend carefully reviewing the support services available and asking how the school works with students who have unique learning or emotional needs.We ultimately found that alternative educational environments better supported our children’s growth and well-being.

I am a parent of children with disabilities sharing our experience so other families can make informed decisions.In our experience, the district did not consistently implement the individualized supports necessary for our children to access their education safely and meaningfully. Expectations were often aligned with typical developmental pacing rather than adapted to each child’s documented needs, which limited access and negatively impacted both learning and confidence.We also experienced situations where serious safety and health concerns were not addressed with appropriate urgency, documentation, or follow-through. This included concerns related to mental health disclosures, medical needs during the school day, supervision, and access to required supports. In our view, these issues had a direct impact on our children’s well-being and their ability to safely access a free and appropriate public education.For families navigating special education in New Hampshire, I strongly encourage asking specific, detailed questions about how services are actually implemented day-to-day—not just what is written in an IEP. Ask how staff respond to safety concerns, how incidents are documented, how communication with parents is handled, and how support is adjusted in real time when a child is struggling.Based on our experience, there can be a significant gap between documented plans and consistent implementation. Understanding that gap early is critical to protecting your child’s access and safety.If something does not feel right for your child, trust that instinct and advocate immediately. Your child has a right to access their education in a safe environment, with appropriate supports consistently in place.I hope sharing this helps another family ask the right questions and advocate more clearly from the start.