What Makes Us Different?

Our schools encourage high levels of student achievement by emphasizing three things: demanding academics, a caring community and character development. These characteristics are at the heart of our successful Expeditionary Learning schools.

Academics

Our curriculum, Expeditionary Learning™, promotes student understanding and rigorous academics through active and interdisciplinary teaching. It emphasizes student inquiry, critical thinking and craftsmanship. Students do original research and share results in presentations. Learning expeditions—deep investigations of rich academic topics—enrich the work of individual courses and often cut across disciplines, including art, music and physical education. Expeditionary Learning is grounded in reality, through academic work that engages students in real-world settings and prepares students for college. Our schools offer internships and apprenticeships.

Our courses usually last 90 minutes or more and provide flexibility for projects, fieldwork, in-depth investigations, presentations and internships. Students maintain portfolios of their achievements in academics, service, fitness and the arts, and present them in formal reviews. These portfolios form the core of student assessment.

Students in need of extra support receive tutoring and opportunities to participate in NYC Outward Bound programs, such as our 5-week summer literacy program.

Our faculty receives ongoing, intensive professional development to implement the school’s mission, Expeditionary Learning curriculum and behavioral expectations. Teachers work in interdisciplinary teams on planning and school issues.

Community

Our schools are small, with about 100 students per grade. Students are well known to each other and adults in the school. The Expeditionary Learning model builds a strong, caring school community where students feel emotionally and physically safe. Students receive the kind of support that contributes to achievement. All students belong to a crew of 12-15 teens that meets at least twice a week with a faculty member, during all four years. Crews offer academic support, friendship, teamwork, character and community building, and members take part in team projects, adventure and service. All incoming students participate in a 5-day backpacking orientation with their crewmates and crew leader, building a strong and lasting foundation for growth. Students at our schools look out for one another and support each other to do their best.

Character

Our students and faculty model and observe high standards of character. Expeditionary Learning schools give explicit attention to helping students develop self-confidence, self-discipline, tenacity, boldness of spirit, compassion, responsibility and other qualities that help them succeed in school and life. Students are challenged and supported to achieve more than they thought possible. Service and adventure are keys in building courage, character, teamwork and community. Students and faculty work together to maintain their school facility, and take part in extended service projects connected to academics. Adventure, through traditional Outward Bound courses and other challenges, is woven into coursework, the physical education curriculum and the school culture. Both students and faculty participate in regular physical exercise, and monitor and chart their progress in fitness and nutrition.

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