Main Campus - Longmeadow

The uniqueness of the Willie Ross School and the implementation of its mission are most clear in the dual-campus model, which provides our students with a variety of academic experiences with their deaf peers at the Longmeadow Campus and deaf and hearing peers in the Partnership Campus within the East Longmeadow Public Schools.  

The Willie Ross School has always been committed to an integrated approach to instruction.  It developed the dual-campus system in response to studies that showed that students with a hearing loss have diverse needs and may require equally diverse instructional settings. Some students learn best at our Longmeadow campus where they are immersed in an academic environment that is specialized to meet their needs, while others learn best at the Partnership Campus where they are included in classes with their hearing peers.

The placement of students within our dual-campus system stems from the evaluated needs of each child, his or her academic abilities and the capacity of the selected campus to provide for these needs. Once campus placement is determined, it is by no means permanent.  Placement is evaluated throughout the academic careers of our students to ensure that the campuses are meeting and responding to the evolving needs of each child. 

All of us in the Willie Ross community have the same goals for our students:  that they develop their cognitive and intellectual skills to the maximum possible extent, that the transition into the next phase of their lives is supported and nurtured during their time at Willie Ross, and that they become active participants in their communities. Our commitment to academic excellence, the development of life skills and the maximum development of communication skills all contribute to this goal.

The great equalizer in American society between students with and without physical challenges is an education.  Educated individuals, regardless of the challenges or obstacles that they have had to overcome, have a great chance of being successful individuals who are assets to their communities.

The Longmeadow Campus consists of the following facilities:

1. The Founders' Classroom Building:

• Robert Wing Hall
• Classrooms
• The Edward B. Cooley Speech and Listening Lab
• The Mary Davis Library
• Multi-purpose Room
• Office of the School Counselor
• Counseling Center
• Nurse's Office

2. West Campus:

• Outdoor play area
• Picnic area
• Playing fields
• Outdoor classroom
• Basketball court
• Track

3. The Foster & Constance Gleason Furcolo Student Center:

• Beveridge Hall
• Physical Education Center
• Cafeteria

4. The Sidney M. Cooley Administration Building:

• The President & Chief Executive Officer
• The Director of Educational Services
• The Director of Operations
• The Coordinator of Student and Administrative Services
• The Office of the Assistant Director of Educational Services
• The Milton Bradley Conference Room
• The Beveridge Family Foundation Room
• The Spanish Translator
• School-to-Career Coordinator
• The Curtis L. Blake Center for Audiological Services and Laboratory
• The Audiological Department
• The School Counselors
• Family Room