Saved Schools

Rooted School Vancouver

Rooted School Vancouver, nominated by Rooted School Foundation, is a high school in Vancouver, Washington, that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily suburban area.

Location Vancouver, Washington

Governance Public Charter School

Grades High

Students 66

Locale Suburban

Executive Director Jamila Singleton

Demographics

Percentage of students*

3%

English Learners

39%

Free/Reduced Lunch

34%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 14%

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian 5%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1%

Hispanic or Latino 22%

White 38%

2+ Races —

Why Rooted School Vancouver was nominated

Rooted School Vancouver opened in Fall 2023, starting with 9th-grade students and is one of the few charter schools in Washington State. This unique education environment focuses on college and career preparedness, offering all students the chance to earn industry-based certifications through close partnerships with technology companies in the region. The high teacher-to-student ratio ensures that all students receive the necessary support to be successful, emphasizing individualized learning and promoting equity in education., Rooted School Vancouver advances equity by focusing on personalized learning paths that prioritize tech certifications and career readiness, equipping students with skills for financial independence. Rooted School Vancouver's model stands out for its commitment to addressing wealth inequality by guiding students toward high-paying job opportunities. The school’s environment promotes student-centered learning through values of growth, community, and excellence, creating supportive pathways for all students to thrive., Rooted School Vancouver (RSV) exists to provide students with personal pathways to financial freedom. RSV does this by giving students the opportunity to self-direct their own learning through individualized learning playlists, earn industry-recognized credentials, and hone industry-specific skills through project-based learning. RSV creates a learning environment that supports the whole student, while also staying at the forefront of education innovation and best practices.

Student experience design

Student Experience — Rooted School Vancouver At Rooted School Vancouver, students don't just attend school — they build it. Every element of the RSV experience is designed to answer one question: What does a young person need to become the author of their own life? The experience we design for: Career-connected from day one. Students engage with real industry partners, complete industry-based certifications (IBCs), and develop professional identities before they graduate. College and career aren't future destinations — they're present realities. Self-directed and agentic. Through our Self-Directed Learning (SDL) structures, students set goals, track their own progress, and develop the habits of ownership that no standardized test can measure. We call it "Own It" — and we mean it. Project-based and applied. Learning at RSV happens through doing. Students produce real work, present to real audiences, and are held to standards that reflect the world they're entering — not just the classroom they're sitting in. Known and held. RSV is intentionally small. Every student is known by name, known by story, and known by goal. Advisory, student-led conferences, and our multi-tiered support systems ensure no one disappears into the hallway. Equity as design, not afterthought. We exist to close the opportunity gap — specifically the 228-point graduation gap between Black and brown students and their white peers in our region. Our school is built around the students who have historically been underserved by traditional models. Identity-affirming and future-oriented. Students see themselves in the curriculum, in the staff, and in the aspirations of the institution. We believe young people thrive when they belong — fully, not conditionally. The RSV student experience is rigorous, relational, and rooted. We prepare graduates who are ready for college, ready for career, and ready to lead.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Industry-recognized Credentials
3-4 years

Industry-aligned Learning Pathways
1-2 years

Project-based Learning
3-4 years

Student-led Conferences
3-4 years

Student-led Goal Setting
3-4 years

All Practices

Adaptive Learning Software

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

AI Literacy

AI For Learning Materials

AI For Teacher Productivity

AI-assisted Tutoring

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Career Readiness

Career Advising & Support

Career Exploration

College Advising & Support

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Higher Education Partnerships

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Educators Have Industry Experience

Internships

Individual Learner Profiles

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

Micro-credentials And Badging

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Multi-age Classrooms

Industry Networking

No Tracked Classes

High Quality Instructional Materials

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

Students Access Their Own Data

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Youth Employment Programs

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Address systemic inequities

Increase student agency

Some other reason

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.