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Lighthouse Holyoke
Lighthouse Holyoke, nominated by Center on Reinventing Public Education and Mastery Transcript Consortium, is a middle/high school in Holyoke, Massachusetts, that describes itself as an independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban/suburban area.
Location Holyoke, Massachusetts
Governance Independent (Private) School
Grades Middle, High
Students 75
Locale Suburban, Urban
Head of School Catherine Gobron
Demographics
Percentage of students*
5%
English Learners
75%
Free/Reduced Lunch
65%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 12%
American Indian/Alaska Native —
Asian 3%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 35%
White 35%
2+ Races —
Why Lighthouse Holyoke was nominated
This school has a fully implemented mastery-based learning system and uses the Mastery Transcript as the official summative record for some or all graduates., Lighthouse offers personalized learning for grades 6-12. Classes are somewhat unvonventional compared to traditional school subjects in that teachers create personalized curriculum based on their expertise; classes are often not restricted to particular grade levels. In addition to small learning spaces, Lighthouse offers an open area for self-directed learning, a recording studio, and a maker space. Although Lighthouse largely operates on tuition-based enrollment, the school has a partnership with the nearby local public school, allowing students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to enroll in a small-group learning envirnment to do so., 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
The LightHouse educational experience goes well beyond conventional practices and offers a personalized approach for young people aged 13 and older. We are supporting students to do much more than get by or get through it, but to thrive. LightHouse is a competency-based program, meaning we value learning and individual development over seat-time or arbitrary curriculum. We change the teacher-student relationship entirely to create a truly collaborative process that is founded in trust and mutual respect.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Co-leadership |
5+ years
|
|
Competency/mastery-based Education |
5+ years
|
|
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles |
5+ years
|
|
1:1 Mentoring |
5+ years
|
|
Trauma-informed Practices |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Advancement On Mastery
Student Advisories
Anti-racist Practices
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Blended Learning
Community And Workforce Partnerships
Family And Community Support Services
Culturally Responsive Practices
Early College High School
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Individual Learner Profiles
Individual Learning Paths
Mental Health Services
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics
Multi-age Classrooms
No Tracked Classes
Project-based Learning
Peer To Peer Support
Performance Based Assessment
Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need
Restorative Practices
SEL Curriculum
SEL Integration School-wide
Student-led Conferences
Student-led Goal Setting
Self-paced Learning
Students Develop Projects
Tutoring
key reasons for innovating
Improve academic achievement
Improve school culture
Increase student agency
Date Updated: 4/1/2025
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.