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R5 High School
R5 High School, nominated by Colorado Education Initiative, is a high school in Grand Junction, Colorado, that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Grand Junction, Colorado
Governance Public District School
Grades High
Students 235
Locale Urban
Principal Nick Steinmetz
Demographics
Percentage of students*
5%
English Learners
55%
Free/Reduced Lunch
25%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black —
American Indian/Alaska Native 5%
Asian —
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 40%
White 45%
2+ Races —
Why R5 High School was nominated
R5 is committed to building relationships and social emotional skills for every student first, and then they focus on academics. They offer a non-traditional pathway for students which is career focused, they have developed a graduate profile that was co-created with the school community, and they are a school that believes in restorative practices and second chances. Project-based learning is core to R5; students have designed and maintain an extensive outdoor garden, tilapia fish farming operation, greenhouse complex constructed by students and an outdoor recreational area also designed and completely constructed by students. These areas provide the context and lab environment for math and science; research and presentations resulting from work in these areas are integrated into language arts. R5 uses an advisory model to build trusting relationships that help buffer stress and provide students with a sense of belongingness. R5 also has developed a progress monitoring system based on a 1:1 consultancy that all teachers must do with their students and information from those conversations is tracked in a database for all teachers to access at any time.
Student experience design
R5 High School strives to provide a personalized learning experience based on learner needs and interests. The goal for all R5 learners is to engage in new beginnings and seek to create the life they want to live through individual reflection and planning. R5 learners develop individualized graduation plans to map their journey to success. R5 learners engage in hands-on, cross disciplinary project-based learning designed to develop essential skills for successful futures.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
1:1 Mentoring |
1-2 years
|
|
Project-based Learning |
1-2 years
|
|
Restorative Practices |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Student Advisories
Anti-racist Practices
Assessments For Career Readiness
Assessments For Deeper Learning
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Co-leadership
Community And Workforce Partnerships
Family And Community Support Services
Competency/mastery-based Education
Culturally Responsive Practices
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Industry-recognized Credentials
Individual Learner Profiles
Individual Learning Paths
Mental Health Services
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics
Multi-age Classrooms
No Tracked Classes
Performance Based Assessment
SEL Curriculum
SEL Integration School-wide
Student-led Conferences
Students Access Their Own Data
Student-led Goal Setting
Self-paced Learning
Students Develop Projects
Trauma-informed Practices
Universal Design For Learning
key reasons for innovating
Improve academic achievement
Increase student agency
Artifacts
Date Updated: 4/1/2025
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.