Original Research by School Decision on Next Step Transition Program
Next Step Transition Program is a special education school serving only twelfth grade in Cottage Grove, part of South Washington County Schools. It is designed as a transition program for students with disabilities, which means it looks different from a typical high school. The school serves about a hundred students, all in their final year of eligibility, and focuses on preparing them for life after high school—work, independent living, and community participation—rather than on traditional academic coursework. Because of its specialized mission, standard state testing data is not reported here, and the school does not have a published graduation rate or chronic absenteeism rate in the data available. This absence is consistent with a program that operates outside the usual accountability framework; a parent considering this placement should expect that the school’s primary measures of success are individualized and post-secondary in nature, not captured in the metrics used for comprehensive schools.
The student body is majority white, with smaller shares of Black, Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Nearly half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a substantial portion of families have lower household incomes. Information on the share of students with individualized education programs (IEPs) was not provided in the data—though as a special education school, it is reasonable to assume that all enrolled students qualify for special education services under state and federal law. The school does not appear to be a charter or magnet school; it operates as a standalone program within the district.
Cottage Grove is a growing, car-dependent suburb roughly ten miles south of Saint Paul. The city has added population at a notable pace in recent years, and the local government has invested in parks, a business park, and commercial corridors. Housing values in the area are above both the state and national medians, and the owner-occupancy rate is high, reflecting an affluent suburban residential base. The community has limited walkability and no traditional downtown; everyday errands require a vehicle. For families whose students are placed at Next Step Transition Program, the commute from surrounding parts of the district is manageable, and the program’s location in Cottage Grove places it near the commercial and recreational amenities the city offers.
South Washington County Schools, the parent district, serves a broad suburban area that includes Cottage Grove and nearby communities. The district brief did not identify any recent major changes, so there is no publicly reported shift in policy, funding, or leadership to note. Parents looking into Next Step Transition Program should contact the district or the school directly for details about the curriculum, community-based instruction, partnerships with local employers, and how the program coordinates with each student’s home high school for graduation requirements.
This program fits families whose child is eligible for special education transition services and who need a focused, non-academic setting to build employment and life skills during the final year of high school. The peer group consists entirely of other students with disabilities in the same age band, so the social environment is supportive but not inclusive of the general education population. The housing market in Cottage Grove is relatively expensive, which may matter for families considering a move into the district to access this program. For those already living in South Washington County Schools, the program is a dedicated option within the district. Because the school does not report standard academic outcomes, families will need to rely on conversations with staff and their student’s IEP team to evaluate effectiveness.
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