HISTORY- Walworth County has historically provided a
first- class educational environment for students with the greatest needs.
Walworth County is recognized as being the first rural County in the nation
to demonstrate that it’s town, villages, and cities can cooperate in a cost
efficient manner and share the cost associated with providing educational
opportunities for children with disabilities. Walworth County’s long
history and commitment of educational initiatives dates back to 1949
when the County Superintendent, Sheridan Ellsworth asked for assistance from
school administrators, parents, and others active in the communities to help
develop an effective rural approach to educate mentally handicapped
students, referred today as cognitively disabled students.
Programs and facilities for students with special
needs in Walworth County have expanded from a leased basement in the Elkhorn
VFW building, sufficient space to educate the fourteen students who were
first enrolled in September, 1950, to a full range of services available
today. Lakeland School is one option within that range of services—a
large self-contained facility which serves the needs of approximately 275
Walworth County students with a wide range of special needs.
Students are placed in programs such as Lakeland School, based on an IEP
team determination of need. Less restrictive, mainstream options are
always considered prior to placement. Parents and other members of the
IEP team are encouraged to explore all options to endorse the program and
placement most appropriate for each student.
Today Lakeland School offers a highly structured program offering
significant modifications in curriculum, for students with disabilities 3 to
21 years of age.
***September 2, 2008 - We started the school year at
our new location: W3905 County Rd NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121