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Insight Colearning Center
Insight Colearning Center, nominated by One Stone, is a high school in Durham, North Carolina that describes itself as a independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Durham, North Carolina
Governance Independent (private) school
Grades High
Students 32
Locale Urban
Executive Director Susan Haws
Demographics
Percentage of students*
—
English Learners
25%
Free/Reduced Lunch
65%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 20%
American Indian/Alaska Native —
Asian 3%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 10%
White 57%
2+ Races 10%
Why Insight Colearning Center was nominated
Insight Co-Learning is an innovative independent school. They are champions of competency-based learning that is individualized and meets students needs now and in the future. They focus on under-served students and are truly committed to advancing equity. Their mission sums up their strengths and focus: "Insight Colearning Center prepares traditionally under-served teens to make a difference in a rapidly changing and uncertain world by providing an exemplary high school experience that combines rigorous, college-style coursework, authentic problem-based learning, one-on-one advising, accommodations and respect for learning differences, and participation in a dynamic and diverse learning community. To achieve this mission, we help students build Competence, Confidence, and Connection in school and Community."
Student experience design
Insight Colearning Center is a unique, learner-centered micro high school located in the heart of Durham, NC. Started in 2018 through a grassroots movement, Insight seeks to disrupt the educational landscape for teens in order to reengage them in authentic and relevant learning for the 21st century and to empower them to make a difference in our rapidly changing and uncertain world. Insight specializes in helping teens discover their “why.” Through a unique combination of coursework, real world learning, outdoor adventure education (OAE), human centered design training, and wayfinding mentorship, Insight students connect deeply to their purpose, gain skills and confidence, build supportive networks, and make tangible contributions to their communities. To this end, we offer a rich program that includes coursework, electives, and real-world experiences that together facilitate teens’ development of 24 durable skills for living and lifelong learning. As of 2022, our portrait of a graduate arises from the Insight Growth Framework, which we have adopted and implemented in partnership with One Stone (Boise, ID). Throughout their time at Insight, students work with their mentors, instructors, and outside collaborators to develop learning goals and to tailor their high school experience towards their own interests, while also developing fundamental skills and abilities that prepare them for future endeavors. The Insight experience culminates in an independent senior project that demonstrates students’ ability to identify and pursue a challenging and meaningful endeavor that combines two or more areas of interest and that makes a lasting impact in their field or community.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
1:1 Mentoring |
5+ years
|
|
Assessments For Deeper Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Project-based Learning |
1-2 years
|
|
Place-based Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Social Justice Focus |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Anti-racist Practices
Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Career Prep And Work-based Learning
Co-leadership
Community And Business Partnerships
Family And Community Support Services
Competency/mastery-based Education
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
Interdisciplinary
Individual Learner Profiles
Individual Learning Paths
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 Integration School-wide
Student-led Conferences
Students Access Their Own Data
Student-led Goal Setting
Students Develop Projects
Tutoring
Universal Design For Learning
key reasons for innovating
Improve school culture
Models Implemented
Grades 9-12
Teamship
Date Updated: 4/1/2025
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.