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Embark Education
Embark Education, nominated by Education Reimagined, Moonshot EdVentures and an anonymous organization, is a middle school in Denver, Colorado that describes itself as a independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Denver, Colorado
Governance Independent (private) school
Grades Middle
Students 30
Locale urban
Head of School Brian Hyosaka
Demographics
Percentage of students*
25%
Students with Disabilities
20%
Free/Reduced Lunch
10%
English Learners
White 55%
Hispanic/Latino 15%
Black/African American —
2+ Races 30%
American Indian —
Asian —
Hawaiian National —
Why Embark Education was nominated
Microschool embedded within two small businesses - a coffee shop and a bike shop; students get experience working in both, Entrepreneurial curriculum; students have to have owned and operated a business before graduating in 8th grade; spends time on financial literacy, Embark Education implements an innovative learning model that supports students to courageously inquire, engage, and discover a sense of self in an environment that is learner-centered, integrated, and embedded in real-world contexts.
Student experience design
So, what does learning at Embark look like? Let’s start with a story. “How can we invite the public into our newly expanded space at Pinwheel Coffee? During the first week's of the learning experience, learners spoke with our Pinwheel team to understand the goals and constraints. They visited spaces throughout the city of Denver to understand how people use space and inventoried their own use of space. With this in mind, they built out their own schedules and went through a liberatory process to craft proposals for Pinwheel to consider. Using the competencies of communication, collaboration, and critical thinking, they not only pitched, but implemented their ideas in a professional space. Today that space is thriving and frequently hosts events from book fairs to pop-ups. Middle Schoolers are capable of so much more than society chooses to believe.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Competency/mastery-based Education |
5+ years
|
|
Interdisciplinary |
5+ years
|
|
Project-based Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Place-based Learning |
5+ years
|
|
SEL Integration School-wide |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Adaptive Learning Software
Advancement On Mastery
Student Advisories
Anti-racist Practices
Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning
Assessments For Deeper Learning
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Blended Learning
Career Prep And Work-based Learning
Co-leadership
Community And Business Partnerships
Competency Framework
Culturally Responsive Practices
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery
Hiring For Equity And Inclusion Values
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Mental Health Services
Multi-age Classrooms
No Tracked Classes
Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery
Peer To Peer Support
Performance Based Assessment
Reallocation Of Resources For Those Most In Need
Restorative Practices
SEL Curriculum
Social Justice Focus
Student-led Conferences
Students Access Their Own Data
Student-led Goal Setting
Self-paced Learning
Students Develop Projects
Universal Design For Learning
key reasons for innovating
Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools
Date Updated: April 2025
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.