Welcome to Grandwood Education Center!
Who We Are Grandwood is a specialized educational program operated by the Woodward-Granger School District. We serve special education students ranging from elementary to post-secondary who benefit from an intensive, integrated approach to education. While we proudly serve students from Woodward-Granger, the Woodward Resource Center, and partner districts, our focus extends beyond traditional support in one or more of the following areas: Cognitive, Emotional, and/or Behavioral.
Our staffing and programming allow us to offer opportunities to our students that may not be duplicated in a general education setting.
Our Integrated Approach At Grandwood, we believe that behavioral regulation, functional independence, and academic rigor are not separate goals—they are deeply interconnected. Our programming is designed to ensure that every student has access to high-quality instruction while receiving the specialized behavioral support they need to thrive.
What Sets Us Apart
- Student-Centered Environments: Our classrooms are organized by age and functional level to provide developmentally appropriate and socially relevant learning experiences.
- Expert Instruction & Support: With a collaborative team of certified teachers and instructional associates, we maintain an average class ratio of 1 teacher to 4–6 students, along with the associate support needed for each individual student.
- Comprehensive Programming: Our curriculum spans Functional Skills, Academics, Social-Emotional Learning (PBIS and Zones), Vocational Training, and Community Integration (Community Learning Experiences).
- Independence-Focused: Every intervention at Grandwood is designed with the "end in mind"—preparing our learners for a life of opportunity, dignity, and independence beyond our walls.
Our Values:
We are student-centered, better together, and strive for continuous improvement.
Our Mission:
Grandwood provides a student-centered environment where behavioral, functional, and academic growth are integrated to empower our learners. Through fidelity of support and continuous improvement, our students gain the real-world skills and academic access for success outside our walls.
Our Vision:
A setting where student growth has no ceiling, ensuring our learners are prepared for a life of opportunity and independence beyond our walls.
Major Programming Areas
- Academics and Living Skills
- Community and Leisure Experiences
- Pre-Vocational and Vocational
- Classroom “jobs”
- Jester Park Equestrian Center
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Urbandale
- AgLeader Assembly Line
- Grandwood Shredding
- Mail Route
- Janitorial
- Phenomenal Coffee Shop
- Social Skills through
- Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
