Call it the CoOp or the Cooperative School, or by its much longer official name, but whatever you do, don't call the Wareham Jr./Sr. Cooperative School "the annex."

The Cooperative School was founded in 2006, and replaced the Wareham High School annex at 3 Viking Drive, an alternative program often thought as a place where "bad" students were sent.

The building is named for Robert A. McDuffy, who served Wareham's children and the town for more than 30 years -- first as an attendance officer, and later as the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds. He helped revive the once deteriorating building, which was formerly the Gateway Playhouse.

But at some point, the annex developed an unfortunate reputation. Now, Cooperative School Interim Principal Kathleen Moore and Social Worker Eileen Frazier are working to change the public's perception, and make the school something McDuffy would be proud of.

Middle- and early high-school students who have fallen behind in classes are given a second chance in the Cooperative School day program, which is designed to determine the reasons students are struggling, and help them catch up and complete their work before they're retained a grade.

"When you're retained at least once, you're 5- to 11-times more likely to drop out of high school," said Frazier. "Our main goal is to just get as many kids who are at-risk … to graduate."

Smaller class sizes, tutoring and academic support, individualized instruction, and hands-on learning opportunities, and access to mental health care and counseling are some of the tools the school uses to achieve that goal. The ultimate goal is to get students back into their middle and high school classrooms, to graduate with their peers.

In previous years, day students left the building during the day to go to jobs, but administrators found that the economy made it difficult for many to find steady work. Now, all day students are in school during regular school hours.

Marysa Richards, a day student in her first year at the Cooperative School, said the smaller classes help her focus on her studies.

"It's less distracting. You don't have to worry about what's going on around you," she said.

Richards was named student of the month for September, and said she appreciates "how supportive the teachers are [and] how helpful they are when you need someone to talk to."

Middle-schooler Kevin Valle said he enjoys the hands-on work the students get to do. Classes recently built a basketball hoop outside the school, which students will use during gym.

"You get more attention for help," Valle added.

Frazier then noted: "He's doing awesome."

A discipline program emphasizes the skills that students need to work through situations, "helping kids figure out how to make their own, better decisions," Frazier explained. The idea is to avoid out-of-school suspensions.

"If kids aren't able to learn, they're not going to learn," Frazier said, explaining that sending students home because they've made a mistake is counter-productive.

The population of the day program fluctuates throughout the year, as students choose to leave the middle or high school, or to move from the Cooperative School back into the larger schools. The program currently services nearly 20 students.

The CoOp's "PM2" night school program — an accelerated path to a high school diploma — services more than 100 students, many of whom have young families. Thirty of those students are from other districts, which pay for the student to attend -- taking some of the financial burden off of Wareham Public Schools.

Seth Warnica, 18, of Wareham, chose to attend the night school program after struggling at Wareham High School.

"I was not really motivated," said Warnica, adding that there was "too much drama. Too much noise."

Warnica's mother is deaf, and he explained that "too much noise is hard to process."

The smaller PM2 classes and individual attention have been paramount for Warnica. He took responsibility for his education, and expects to have enough credits for his diploma by December.

"I need that diploma," said Warnica, who enjoys writing poetry. "It's a very important piece of paper."

Moore has especially enjoyed seeing Warnica be successful. She taught him at Wareham Middle School.

"It's so nice to see a transition from 8th grade to a young man," said Moore.

The Cooperative School is the only stand-alone alternative program from Provincetown to New Bedford and Middleborough.

Through breakfasts with parents, and a Foundation for Wareham Education grant that will allow administrators to purchase Cooperative School apparel, Moore and Frazier are working to foster a sense of pride in the community.

It certainly appears to be working for the school's students.

"The teachers are good," noted middle-school day student Brianna Martinez. "They keep you on track."