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Opportunity Academy at Holyoke High School
Opportunity Academy at Holyoke High School, nominated by Barr Foundation and Center on Reinventing Public Education, is a high school in Holyoke, Massachusetts, that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Holyoke, Massachusetts
Governance Public District School
Grades High
Students 206
Locale Urban
Principal Phelipe Johnson
Demographics
Percentage of students*
27%
English Learners
—
Free/Reduced Lunch
38%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 12%
American Indian/Alaska Native —
Asian —
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 81%
White 7%
2+ Races —
Why Opportunity Academy at Holyoke High School was nominated
Project-based learning with transformative learning experiences Primary person model Post secondary success planning with students, Students enrolled at Opportunity Academy are presented with three different pathways to finish their high school degree: competency-based learning provided in house at Success Center, a dual enrollment program at the local community college, and personalized learning experiences through a partnership with a local private institution. Opportunity Academy is re-thinking the alternative education space by providing multiple learning pathways to meet every student's individual needs., This high school's primary person model and district partnerships support students to and through graduation.
Student experience design
The student experience is highly personalized and differentiated across our three campuses. At Gateway to Holyoke Community College, the experience is a dual enrollment one, largely designed to preview the experience of a community college student with college level classes, and the independence and flexibility of college life. At Success Center, students are guided through a personalized Project-Based course of studies, supported by flexible scheduling and a primary person model that provides students with an advisor who knows them deeply and uses case conferencing to help them set and achieve goals. LightHouse Holyoke is a non-compulsory, extremely relevant and high-interest progressive school where students dictate their course of study, supported by an advisor, and take ownership over every aspect of their learning.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Community And Workforce Partnerships |
5+ years
|
|
Competency/mastery-based Education |
5+ years
|
|
Project-based Learning |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Advancement On Mastery
Anti-racist Practices
Assessments For Deeper Learning
Co-leadership
Family And Community Support Services
Culturally Responsive Practices
Early College High School
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Industry-recognized Credentials
Individual Learner Profiles
Individual Learning Paths
Mental Health Services
1:1 Mentoring
Multi-age Classrooms
Performance Based Assessment
SEL Integration School-wide
Students Access Their Own Data
Self-paced Learning
Students Develop Projects
Trauma-informed Practices
key reasons for innovating
Address systemic inequities
Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools
Improve academic achievement
Date Updated: 4/1/2025
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.