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DB EXCEL (Kingsport)
DB EXCEL (Kingsport), nominated by an anonymous organization, is a high school in Kingsport, Tennessee that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily suburban area.
Location Kingsport, Tennessee
Governance Public district school
Grades High
Students 250
Locale Suburban
Principal Shanna Hensley
Demographics
Percentage of students*
—
English Learners
24%
Free/Reduced Lunch
17%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 11%
American Indian/Alaska Native 3%
Asian 1%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 2%
White 83%
2+ Races —
Why DB EXCEL (Kingsport) was nominated
D-B EXCEL in Kingsport City Schools is re-envisioning the high school experience to offer an alternative for students who are seeking a non-traditional setting. Located separately from the main high school (Dobyns-Bennett High School), D-B EXCEL offers a flexible schedule and an intense focus on blended, personalized learning. Supported by a team of educators, students take online classes that allow them to learn at their own pace and to complete coursework in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate work or extra-curricular schedules. D-B EXCEL engages students in rigorous, standards-aligned instruction with a focus on project-based learning which allows students to demonstrate content mastery through products, performances, or presentations rather than traditional assessments or work products. D-B EXCEL was first envisioned in Spring 2014 and currently serves more than 200 students., This school features a very strong academic program focused in STEM and personalized learning.
Student experience design
In the spring of 2014, a team of Kingsport City School leaders and administrators met to conceptualize an innovative course of action to meet the needs of the 21st century learner. This team worked to create a vision that embraced the ideas of virtual and blended learning, engaging and relevant digital content, robust instructional technology, powerful data analytics, and the importance of teacher/student relationships that would support a learning environment that emphasized personalized learning. This vision was implemented in the fall of 2014 with the opening of DB-EXCEL (Excellence in a Creative Environment for Learning). From its initial stages, the program included an intentional focus on professional learning and a continuous process of reflective evaluation. These mindsets extend throughout the entire school as a defined focus for both students and staff. The fabric of DB-EXCEL is woven with a thread of personalized education experiences for all that support student success in college and career.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Project-based Learning |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Student Advisories
Assessments For Career Readiness
Assessments For Deeper Learning
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Blended Learning
Career Prep And Work-based Learning
Community And Business Partnerships
Competency/mastery-based Education
Culturally Responsive Practices
Extended Learning Opportunities
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery
Students Earn Industry Credentials
Interdisciplinary
Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies
Individual Learning Paths
1:1 Mentoring
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics
Multi-age Classrooms
No Tracked Classes
Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery
Performance Based Assessment
Place-based Learning
Reallocation Of Resources For Those Most In Need
Restorative Practices
SEL Integration School-wide
Student-led Conferences
Students Access Their Own Data
Student-led Goal Setting
Self-paced Learning
Students Develop Projects
Tutoring
Universal Design For Learning
key reasons for innovating
Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools
Models Implemented
Grades PK-12
APB Model
Date Updated: 4/1/2025
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.