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 of 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.

Discovery High School will be accredited in 2023-2024 and NCAA-approved.  These two processes will ensure all students can make complete their post-secondary plans.

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 Camas High School

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 High School the following year without any impact on their path to graduation.

Does submitting an application commit us to the program?

Yes, the application does commit you to a decision. If you have general questions, call anytime! 360-833-5790 is our main number.  Once you fill out an application we will reach out and get you started as soon as possible.

What does the schedule look like?

Our school day begins at 8:45 AM and ends at 3:15 PM. While teaching teams have the flexibility to adjust schedules to meet students’ needs and accomplish project goals, this is a sample daily schedule:

1st Period 8:45-9:40 AM
2nd Period 9:45-10:40 AM
3rd Period 10:45-11:40 AM
Lunch 11:40 AM – 12:20 PM
4th Period 12:20 PM – 1:15 PM
5th Period 1:20 PM-2:15 PM
6th Period 2:20 PM-3:15 PM
RISE (Advisory) Wednesdays 11:40 AM – 12:45 PM
WIN (What I Need) Project Time Wednesdays 8:45 AM – 3:15 PM

Starting with the 23/24 school year, we will have a modified six period block with a specially designed Wednesday.  This will allow us to fit in extended project time and RISE, which is our version of Advisory.

Will Discovery students be able to participate in CHS athletics?

Yes, students will be able to participate in CHS athletics and activities such as drama. An activity bus will be available at the end of the day to transport students from Discovery to CHS.

Will Discovery students be able to attend classes at CHS?

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