Guiding Principles

Tag Line

Rooted in community, cultivated through knowledge, branching into the future

Instructional Vision

Students will develop a strong personal agency by demonstrating respect and compassion for others and cultivating awareness of their own strengths and passions. Students will be engaged, community-minded explorers, who possess creative problem-solving skills. Teachers at the Rhodes School of Environmental Studies believe that all students are capable of learning at high levels. Teachers will focus on personalizing instruction through a mastery-based system and providing experiential learning opportunities through performance-based assessments and community opportunities.

What will the school be known for?

• Creating an environment where students can seek alternative solutions to problems
• Promoting environmental stewardship
• Embracing diversity
• Promoting positive community change
• Demonstrating respect and compassion for others
• High academic standards

What will the students of this school achieve?

• Academic and career readiness
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Community-minded leadership
• Global world view
• Research methodologies
• Awareness of their own strengths and passions
• The ability to advocate for what they want to achieve

What is unique about this school?

• Focus on leadership and critical thinking skills development
• Competency based instruction, including honors and AP classes
• Course sequence will meet the criteria for an honors high school diploma
• Students will have the opportunity to earn industry credentials through a CTE pathway in Business
• Multiple learning expeditions outside of the classroom each year
• STEM rich core curriculum with emphasis on life science experiences

Belief Statements

• We believe all students are capable of learning at high levels
• We believe that all learners are unique
• We believe that every student has to be equipped with a personalized set of skills in order to find success after graduation
• We believe that students learn at their own pace
• We believe that students learn best when they engage in expeditionary (or investigative or experiential) learning
• We believe that all students have the potential to become change agents in their communities
• We believe that all students benefit by a shared understanding of and appreciation for culture and diversity
• We believe that communication and collaboration with others is essential to personal development

Building Blocks:

• Develop a strong personal agency
• Demonstrating respect and compassion for others
• Give students opportunities to explore passions and demonstrate strengths
• Promote personal resilience and instill a growth mindset
• Equipped with a personalized set of skills upon graduation
• Be community minded
• Promoting environmental stewardship and awareness
• Knowledge of the community to be an advocate and leader to promote positive community change
• Understanding a role as a global citizen
• Be engaged learners
• Actively participate in discussions
• Make learning culturally relevant for yourself
• Engage in authentic learning
• Performance-based assessments
• Be problem solvers
• Students can persistently seek alternative solutions to problems
• Learn and implement multiple research methods
• Develop and practice leadership skills
• Collaborate and communicate effectively