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Zoo School
Asheboro High School Zoo School - A Model for 21st Century Education
Meet the AHS Zoo School Staff : AHS Zoo School Technology : Ribbon Cutting
Sometimes smaller is better. That is the theory behind a research-supported educational reform model called small learning communities. A small learning community creates a unique learning environment for up to 400 students centered around a class, an area of interest, or any number of categories. Due to its size, small learning communities foster stronger relationships among students and staff, another research supported element in high student achievement. The size also allows teachers to know their students as learners and provide nurture and support for their success. Preparing students for a global society is not an easy task. Advances in technology and 21st century influences create new challenges for schools and for students.
For some students, the traditional high school is a perfect fit, but for others, it is too big, too noisy, and too impersonal. These are the students who thrive in small learning communities. Asheboro High School is a comprehensive high school of 1300 students with a rich heritage of high school innovation. Based on its desire to meet the needs of all students, Asheboro High School opened the Blue Comet Academy in August, 2006. This small learning community for all ninth grade students is designed to assure support and success in academic and social transition to high school.
The Asheboro High School reform model includes additional small learning communities for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, each centered around an area of interest. With the proximity of the North Carolina Zoo, a world-class institution with a rich scientific environment, our logical first choice would be to focus in the area of science. This satellite extension of Asheboro High School is known as the AHS Zoo School.
Based on a model from Lincoln, Nebraska, The AHS Zoo School will serve 80 to 100 students in grades 10, 11 and 12. Students will attend one class at the Asheboro High School main campus then travel to a classroom and lab facility on the North Carolina Zoo campus for the remainder of their classes in science, English, mathematics and social studies. Students will be actively involved in their learning through problem-solving and using the 1500 acre, world class, North Carolina Zoo as their classroom.
Technology will be infused into the environment through student laptops, classroom work stations, SmartBoards, digital imaging, and handhelds. Teachers at the AHS Zoo School will collaborate with North Carolina Zoo educators and staff to allow students to experience science on a daily basis, whether it is through English or mathematics classes. The most unique feature of the focus program model is that students remain a part of Asheboro High School while experiencing the benefits of the AHS Zoo School. Other unique features include its building on strengths within the school and the community, the high level of technology infused throughout instruction, the focus on problem solving and real-life application of learning, and the collaboration between education and state institutions. These combine to make this focus program approach an innovative state and national model for school reform.
Contact:
Susan Yow at 336-625-6185