Learning Targets

While comprehensive school models focus on classes, credits, and letter grades, John Dewey Academy of Learning shifts that focus to earning and mastering learning targets through projects and seminars through a proficiency scale.  Our students still complete the required competencies as all other GBAPS high school students, it is the path taken that varies from student to student.  As an example, in a comprehensive school a student may enroll in English 9 and earn a letter grade for the duration of the course, while at John Dewey Academy of Learning students are required to demonstrate proficiency in all of the English 9 learning targets through projects and seminars.  Through this approach, a student may demonstrate mastery of grammar and writing while writing a paper, presentation, brochure, or other written medium about their research on various theories of the formation of the universe, natural selection, or even an analysis of the business cycle.

Each learning target contributes to a percentage of a high school credit and students work to master both required and elective learning targets.   

What are learning targets? What do they mean related to credits and GPA?

Community Service Requirement

Students at John Dewey Academy of Learning are required to demonstrate hours of community service in order to graduate.  This breaks down into _________ hours each year in attendance.  Students demonstrate this through their own documentation and reflection and staff stress the importance of finding meaningful community service experiences relative to students’ areas of interest. 

Civics Exam 

The Wisconsin State Civics exam is administered in 9th grade at John Dewey Academy of learning.  This exam mirrors the US Citizenship exam and is a state graduation requirement.  Students work to pass this exam during their freshman year, and there are a variety of seminars specifically designed to address the content of this exam which are offered to our ninth grade students.

PFL

All Wisconsin students are required to meet financial literacy requirements.  John Dewey Academy of Learning offers our Personal Financial Literacy curriculum to all 11th grade students during their first trimester.  This seminar includes live experts in a multitude of areas including real estate, financial planning, insurance, accountants, college counselors, and more.  Students create a portfolio outlining their plan to make a million dollars, incorporating the personal financial literacy concepts they have learned. This project will help them apply their knowledge in a practical, goal-oriented manner.

Elective Opportunities

Along with a variety of seminar options within our school, John Dewey Academy of Learning also provides opportunities for students to take specialized elective coursework in the areas of Fine Arts, Foreign Language, and Shop offered at other GBAPS high schools as well as through NWTC and UWGB courses through the Start College Now program.