Distinguishers

• Learning in the Real World (LTI)

  In this internship with an expert mentor in the field of the student’s interest, the student completes an authentic project that benefits the student and the mentor at the internship site. The projects are connected to the student’s interests and meet the needs of the mentors, and are the main root to deepening student learning and academic growth.

• One Student at a Time – Personalization

  Learning at a Big Picture Learning school is not constrained by the school day or to the school year – it is constrained only by our guiding principle that schools must be personalized, educating one student at a time.

• Authentic Assessment

  Assessments instead include public exhibitions (one per quarter or trimester which tracks student growth and progress, quality of work, and academic depth in the learning goals), weekly check-in meetings with advisors, weekly journals, yearly presentation portfolios, and transcripts (which translate the Big Picture Learning design in a way that colleges can understand).

• School Organization

  From assessment tools to the design of the school building itself, a truly personalized school approaches each student and situation with a mind to what is best for the individual and for the community.

• Advisory Structure

  It is the heart and soul of the school and is often described as the “home” and “second family” by students. Our goal is for all Big Picture Learning students to be a part of a small advisory of no more than fifteen students with one advisor who works with the students throughout their entire high school career.

• School Culture

  School culture is not a means to an end, but an end in itself. Big Picture Learning schools are small, personalized communities of learning, where students are encouraged to be leaders and where school leaders are encouraged to be visionaries. Our schools strive to create a respectful, diverse, creative, exciting, and reflective culture.

• Leadership

  In Big Picture Learning schools, leadership is shared and spread between a strong, visionary principal and a dedicated, responsible team of advisors. The leadership of the school community functions as a democracy.

• Parent/Family Engagement: Adult Support

  Big Picture Learning believes that parent/guardian engagement in a child’s learning is essential to student success.

• School/College Partnership: College Preparation and Support

  Big Picture Schools expose students to the variety of professional, academic, and social paths available to be pursued after high school; and plan students’ academic course in order to maximize students’ post-high school opportunities.

• Professional Development

  At each Big Picture school, the principal in conjunction with other Big Picture Learning staff lead professional development sessions for the school staff. This ongoing professional development takes place at staff meetings, at regular staff retreats, and conferences designed to delve deeply into various topics. Advisors and staff members participate in all Big Picture Learning [...]