Cornwall Alternative School (CAS) offers intensive teaching to at-risk youths in grades 7-10.  These youths are referred to Cornwall Alternative School  by  local school boards because they are deemed at risk of failing due to non-attendance, poor behaviour, or refusal to complete their work in the classroom. Approximately 85% of CAS youths are First Nations, with many involved in gangs, prostitution, drugs, and alcohol.  The average reading levels of these youths are one to two years behind grade level. These youths are identified as having the potential for success if learning is intensive enough to keep them engaged.

Through a holistic and trustworthy learning environment in small classrooms, CAS works to re-engage youths with learning, bringing them academically up to grade level and enabling them to return to the regular school system. CAS provides transit vouchers for the students to get to school and provides them with hearty meals. An ongoing student incentive program offers students the opportunity to win prizes and participate in outings every two weeks as a reward for attendance and work completion.

Cornwall Alternative School  continues to be a cost-efficient organization with administrative costs at 2% of revenues in F2015.  Fundraising costs have remained at less than 1% of donations in the past 3 years.   Cornwall Alternative School has funding reserves of $539k, which can cover annual programs for 7 months.  

Updated by Ruoxi Gao in 2016, currently under review by  Cornwall Alternative School.