Pixel International Conferences

One of the novel facets of the American education system is the rise of charter schools. These schools, often located in areas impacted by high poverty, focus on innovative ways of increasing school achievement among the most marginalized students. The Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) in New Bedford, Massachusetts is one such institution. GLCPS, named by the Washington Post as one of America's "Most Challenging High Schools," is a 500-student secondary school for students in grades 5-12. For years, GLCPS students have scored at- or above-average on state exams and 100% of graduates have been accepted to a two- or four-year college. The success of GLCPS in closing the achievement gap and bettering the college prospects of its students are the direct result of the school's comparatively small size. This allows for a more personalized educational experience during the crucial adolescent years.

This paper will explore the school's personalized education experience in detail. I will explore   how we capitalize on the small school experience through 1) technology literacy 2) Presentations of Learning (our holistic approach to evaluation), 3) Arts exploration, and 4) Project-Based Learning.  At GLCPS each student is required to improve their technology literacy through matriculation in several courses. In grades 9-12, students are given a personal Chromebook to aid in completing their assignments. Presentations of Learning, occuring three times per year, afford students the opportunity to improve their public speaking skills by demonstrating their knowledge in front of a public audience. Students explore visual, fine, martial, and the musical arts through the choice of an arts pathway. Fourth, I will discuss the school's use of Project-Based Learning as a medium of curriculum design. Finally, I will note the importance of a small school environment in building both an academically rigorous learning culture and a culture that values students as unique  individuals.