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SEEQS: the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability
SEEQS: the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability, nominated by Transcend and two anonymous organizations, is a middle school in Honolulu, Hawaii, that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Honolulu, Hawaii
Governance Public Charter School
Grades Middle
Students 180
Locale Other, Urban
Founder Buffy J Cushman-Patz
Demographics
Percentage of students*
5%
English Learners
20%
Free/Reduced Lunch
15%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 2%
American Indian/Alaska Native —
Asian 16%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 11%
Hispanic or Latino 13%
White 29%
2+ Races —
Why SEEQS: the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability was nominated
SEEQS is a school like no other. Their mission is to raise up a generation of students that will positively impact and change the world around them and they are doing it. Organized into self-selected project teams, students spend their afternoons making decisions about how they can best create a sustainable future for all. The structure of the entire school revolves around these multi-grade endeavors., SEEQS students spend 2 hours daily on yearlong interdisciplinary projects focused on "essential questions of sustainability." Students engage in portfolio defenses, student-led conferences, and multi-age classrooms. They also focus on student agency via democratic decision-making processes. They currently operate one school and will be launching their second school this fall., SEEQS (the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability) is an innovative public charter school in Honolulu, Hawai’i, that emphasizes relevance and agency grounded in environmental and social engagement. Through their Essential Questions of Sustainability (EQS) model, students engage in real-world learning experiences, applying their knowledge to examine complex sustainability issues that impact their daily lives. SEEQS courses are designed around essential questions without simple answers (e.g., how can tourism honor and sustain Hawaii’s land, people, and culture?) and kick off with EQS Camp, a time where students build background knowledge through field studies, expert interviews, and experiences with community partners. No other classes are held during this time, allowing learners to truly immerse themselves in the essential question that interests them most. Over the course of the semester, students continue to investigate the essential question through student-driven projects, which vary from class to class and are shaped by a shared vision between students and teachers. These interdisciplinary projects are highly rigorous, integrating core subjects like English, math, science, social studies, and the arts. They require students to use a range of thinking skills to make meaning of complex ideas. At the end of the semester, students showcase their learning through public project exhibitions that are open to the community. Both essential question courses and exhibitions draw upon expertise from beyond the walls of the physical school building, embracing relevant learning and fostering student agency.
Student experience design
At SEEQS, powerful core learning in math, science, social studies, English, and the arts combines with project-based experiences that allow students to apply what they have learned to real-world situations.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Assessments For Deeper Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Multi-age Classrooms |
5+ years
|
|
Project-based Learning |
5+ years
|
|
SEL Integration School-wide |
5+ years
|
|
Student-led Conferences |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Adaptive Learning Software
Student Advisories
AI For Learning Materials
AI For Teacher Productivity
Co-leadership
Community And Workforce Partnerships
Competency/mastery-based Education
Culturally Responsive Practices
Extended Learning Time
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Individual Learning Paths
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics
No Tracked Classes
Performance Based Assessment
High Quality Instructional Materials
Restorative Practices
SEL Curriculum
Service Learning
Students Access Their Own Data
Student-led Goal Setting
Students Develop Projects
Trauma-informed Practices
Universal Design For Learning
Career Prep
key reasons for innovating
Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools
Increase student agency
Increase teacher agency
Date Updated: 4/1/2026
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.