Downtown High School

Downtown High School offers project-based learning that emphasizes critical thinking skills across curricular areas and a strong connection with the School-to-Career Program. We focus on each learner's need for alternative strategies and are rooted in the commitment to student mastery of the core curriculum. With a project-based approach to learning, students have the opportunity to select a project that matches their own interests and learning styles. Each project has integrated curriculum and the flexibility of high interest academic and hands on experiential learning, backed by high expectations and teacher support. Downtown High School currently has five projects:

• Acting for Critical Thought (ACT)
• Get Out and Learn (GOAL)
• Making, Advocating and Designing as Empowerment (MADE)
• Music and Academics Resisting the System (MARS)
• Wilderness Arts and Literacy Collaborative (WALC)

In addition to a rigorous core curriculum that includes language arts/literacy, mathematics, science, history/social science, world languages, and visual/performing arts, Downtown High programs prepare students for the real world, building essential life skills. Even students who have not been successful at traditional high schools find success and self motivation within rich academic settings. Mandatory parent conferences twice a semester ensure that academic and social information is passed between parents/guardians and teachers, bridging communication with families in a supportive manner. Service learning is also an essential element of the Downtown High School experience. Many students work and volunteer in the community as part of their selected projects. The world is immense and Downtown High is focused on bridging real world wisdom through exposure of multiple academic subjects coupled with experiential learning.

Watch this video to hear students and staff talk about the Projects at DHS.