At Omaha’s Bryan High, students may plant potatoes, care for chickens, tour Union Pacific headquarters or sort and ship books at a school-based distribution center, reports Education Week.
“Students can choose from 16 career clusters and two pocket academies—one focused on urban agriculture and natural resources and another on transportation, distribution, and logistics—or TDL, for short.”
Katrina Whitford, a junior, holds a chicken as she works in an animal science class. Photo: Ryan Henriksen, Education Week
The story is part of Ed Week‘s Diplomas Count report, which focuses on new ways to do high school.
Another story looks at a new Denver high school that’s struggling to make its model work.
Northfield High was designed to place all students, regardless of past achievement, in rigorous International Baccalaureate classes. Students can pursue “pathways” in the arts, business, biomedical sciences and other subjects of interest.
The school also pledged to base grades on mastery, rather than homework completion or class participation.
Teachers were supposed to help run the school and share counseling responsibilities.
However, the principal was forced out in October after complaints about discipline. A majority of teachers will not return next year. The advisory program has been changed.
The second year’s incoming class will be predominantly Latino with fewer white and black students choosing the program.
The four-year graduation rate is up to 82 percent, notes Ed Week. Neerav Kingsland adds: “Expected to hit 102% with new credit recovery program.”