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Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School

Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School, nominated by National Center for Learning Disabilities, Center for Secondary School Redesign, Aurora Institute, Bellwether Education Partners, and Center on Reinventing Public Education, is a high school in Devens, Massachusetts.

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Why Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School was nominated

The Parker School is designed from the Coalition of Essential Schools 10 Principles. Learning is designed around Parker’s Criteria for Excellence, which is categorized into the domains of Arts and Humanities (AH), Math, Science, and Technology (MST), Language (Spanish), and Wellness. Students fulfill the Criteria for Excellence within their coursework and subsequently progress through designated "gateway" portfolios and presentations. The autonomy given to students in choosing their topics, designing essential questions, pursuing their interests, and creating high-level demonstrations of learning reflects a student-centered approach., Highly personalized, competency-based education. Ted Sizer founded the school and it is a stellar example of rigor in that approach., Recommended for their very inclusive community, postsecondary preparation work, and an impressive portfolio program rather than grading system.