Jefferson County Open School

Lakewood, CO

Education that transcends trends

Jefferson County Open School was established in 1970 when parents, educators, and youth rallied for an education that prioritizes each child’s holistic development. For over 50 years, the school has maintained that commitment, and alumni from different decades share a lifelong love of learning that they attribute to Open School’s dynamic opportunities and nurturing environment.

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See for yourself

What it looks and feels like

Youth don’t just grow up at the Open School; they shape themselves into the people they want to be. PK-12 students in this public school progress through six developmentally appropriate, multiage phases, and foundational relationships form in advising groups, where each student is paired with an educator for personalized support. The daily experience is vibrant, with younger students engaging in hands-on learning and teens pursuing unique goals. In addition to co-leading an interest-based class or volunteering in the community, older students may be found literally around the world on trips they initiated and helped plan— delving into immigration issues at the Texas-Mexico border or seeing firsthand the impacts of micro-credit loans for Guatemalan women. As their world opens up, students hone in on their aspirations and develop the skills and dispositions to pursue them.

This opportunity to guide my own education has been crucial for my personal, social, and intellectual growth, and I believe it has prepared me for the next steps in my educational journey.
JASMINE

THE IMPACT

99%

of alumni surveyed report that the school has had a positive effect on their sense of the joy of learning

85%

of Open School alumni surveyed completed degree programs, compared to the national average of 45%

82%

of parents report satisfaction with the school culture, compared to the district average of 66%

MODEL HIGHLIGHTS

Learning through travel

Purposeful travel is integral to the Open School program. Some trips occur annually, and others emerge based on coursework and student goals. Destinations span the globe, and money that would pay for sports at another school is diverted to defray the cost of travel.

Scaffolded self-direction

In this PK-12 environment, self-direction is cultivated over time. Guided experiences in one phase prepare students for increased autonomy in the next, culminating in the final phase when each student completes six challenging, independent “Passage” projects.

Holistic graduation expectations

Graduation eligibility is based on students’ successful completion of individualized goals in personal, social, and intellectual realms. Students document their learning in a comprehensive narrative transcript authenticated by multiple staff members.

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