Will PBL help students be college and career ready?

Students attending PBL-focused schools have the same success rates gaining admittance to colleges and other post-secondary options. Ultimately, colleges want students with the same skills employers are seeking. While they still expect students to have a sound base of academic knowledge, they don’t want students who only know a lot of information – or how to memorize it.  They are seeking learners who understand more deeply and can apply what they know in the real world.

Learning in college still means attending lectures by professors, but that’s not all.  More and more colleges are moving away from a lectures-only approach. In addition to working independently, college students are expected to work in teams, manage projects, and make presentations. Project-Based Learning emphasizes all these skills.

Lastly, Discovery High School students will earn a diploma with a standard transcript like all of our Camas students, in addition to a portfolio of projects and accomplishments to help set them apart. 

What are employers looking for?

According to recent studies, employers say they value people who can:

  • think critically and solve problems;

  • work well in teams;

  • communicate effectively;

  • take initiative;

  • learn new skills when needed;

  • innovate and be creative; and

  • manage their work independently.

​Project-Based Learning gives students opportunities to develop these skills. 

What about electives?

Discovery High School students have the opportunity to earn elective credits in a number of ways:

  • Design and Engineering classes in our diverse Fabrication Lab​

  • Music ensembles

  • World language options

  • Approved and teacher-guided passion projects

  • A select number of zero-period courses at CHS

​

Is this a full-year commitment?

Yes, we are asking students to make a full-year commitment to maintain continuity for their learning and to help us plan accordingly for staffing and budgeting.  Students may choose to return to CHS or Hayes Freedom the following year without any impact on their path to graduation.

Does submitting an interest form commit us to the program?

No, the interest form does not commit you to a decision.  You will be notified after March 9  if a spot has been reserved for your student through our lottery system. Once notified, families will have five days to accept or decline an enrollment offer.

What does the schedule look like?

Our school day will begin at 8:40 a.m. and end at 3:20 p.m. While teaching teams have the flexibility to adjust schedules to meet students’ needs and accomplish project goals, you may see a sample daily schedule by clicking below:

Advisory / Community 8:40-8:55 AM
Block 1 (Math) 8:55-10:10 AM
Passing Time 10:10-10:15 AM
Block 2 (Humanities) 10:15-11:30 AM
Lunch 11:30 AM-Noon
Block 3 (Elective/Fitness) 12:00-1:15 PM
Passing Time 1:15-1:20 PM
Block 4 (Science) 1:20-2:35 PM
Passing Time 2:35-2:40 PM
Passion Project /Personal Learning 2:40-3:20 PM
Will Discovery students be able to participate in CHS athletics?

Yes, students will be able to participate in CHS athletics and activities.  An activity bus will be available at the end of the day to transport students from Discovery to CHS.[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”Will Discovery students be able to attend classes at CHS?” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Discovery students may attend some zero period classes at CHS. These may include select vocal ensemble, world languages, and ceramics, for example.

*CHS zero period offerings are subject to change.

My student has an IEP. Are they eligible to attend?

Students served by an IEP are welcome to apply to attend Discovery.  Due to the integration of curriculum and the flexible nature of our environment, special services look different when compared to a typical school.

While many students’ instructional needs can be met within our grade-level and full-inclusion framework, it is not designed to meet the needs of all students. In some cases, a student is best served at their neighborhood school where a range of specialized services or designated district programs are available.

Therefore, students who are being served by an IEP will be considered on a case-by-case basis according to their needs and IEP team recommendations. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us or speak with your child’s current IEP case manager.