Compass Academy

Demographics

Percentage of students*

Why Compass Academy was nominated

This school has implemented a competency-based learning model and is or will soon be publishing Mastery Transcripts or MTC Learning Records as summative records for some or all graduates., What makes Compass Academy unique? This public high school of choice that is open to any District 303 student who selects it as long as space allows, with no additional fees, offers: Small learning community: Our enrollment capacity is 125 students, allowing us to personalize learning for each student. Flexible schedule: Students may begin their day later or end their day earlier than a traditional schedule typically allows. They also have options to take courses through an online or blended format, at the Fox Valley Career Center, or Elgin Community College. Personalized approach: Student choice, interests, post-secondary goals, and learning needs guide learning experiences and are incorporated into personal learning plans. Project-based learning: Courses center on projects where students work to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge. Experiential learning opportunities: Students may learn outside the classroom through activities including internships, job shadowing, community service, and student- developed projects. Interdisciplinary seminars: Many courses are cross-curricular, covering content and concepts in multiple subjects within one course. Competency-based education: Students demonstrate proficiency of learning outcomes or competencies instead of receiving letter grades, and learning is not tied to "seat time", which allows students to learn at their own pace. Embedded employability skills: Skills including problem-solving, communication, and adaptability/flexibility are embedded into each course. Advisory: In daily advisory, students engage in ongoing social-emotional learning while receiving support in building personal success skills, selecting appropriate courses, and developing post-secondary plans. Students who choose Compass believe its smaller, non-traditional high school environment will help them be more successful as it offers: a choice and voice in learning activities; project-based seminars with “real world” and hands-on learning; opportunities to explore career pathways in every seminar; and a flexible schedule with a later start or earlier end to the day designed to build a schedule that works for each individual student. , The school has implemented mastery-based learning system and uses the Mastery Transcript as the official summative record for some or all graduates or supplements the legacy transcript with the MTC Learning Record reporting on "durable skills) (aka "portrait of a gradudate" competencies).

Student experience design

What makes Compass Academy unique? Small learning community: Our enrollment capacity is 125 students, allowing us to personalize learning for each student. Flexible schedule: Students may begin their day later or end their day earlier than a traditional schedule typically allows. They also have options to take courses through an online or blended format, at the Fox Valley Career Center, or Elgin Community College. Personalized approach: Student choice, interests, post-secondary goals, and learning needs guide learning experiences and are incorporated into personal learning plans. Project-based learning: Courses center on projects where students work to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge. Experiential learning opportunities: Students may learn outside the classroom through activities including internships, job shadowing, community service, and student- developed projects. Interdisciplinary seminars: Many courses are cross-curricular, covering content and concepts in multiple subjects within one course. Competency-based education: Students demonstrate proficiency of learning outcomes or competencies instead of receiving letter grades. Embedded employability skills: Skills including problem-solving, communication, and adaptability/flexibility are embedded into each course. Advisory: In daily advisory, students engage in ongoing social-emotional learning while receiving support in building personal success skills, selecting appropriate courses, and developing post-secondary plans.

Core Practices

Core Practices	Length of Use
Competency/mastery-based Education	3-4 years
Interdisciplinary	3-4 years
Project-based Learning	3-4 years
Restorative Practices	3-4 years
SEL Integration School-wide	3-4 years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Career Prep And Work-based Learning

Co-leadership

Community And Business Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Competency Framework

Culturally Responsive Practices

Extended Learning Opportunities

Extended Learning Time

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Hiring For Equity And Inclusion Values

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Students Earn Industry Credentials

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Multi-age Classrooms

No Tracked Classes

Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery

Performance Based Assessment

SEL Curriculum

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Universal Design For Learning

key reasons for innovating