Students earn credit differently than in traditional high schools, working toward mastery of academic, personal, career, and life skills, demonstrated in their portfolios, instead of just doing seat time in classes to earn credit (and sometimes being passed along without actually learning).  Students are more accountable to actually learning each “Competency” or skill, but can do it in a variety of ways:  through blended learning, whole class teacher-led learning, internships and apprenticeships, online coursework (though we are NOT a virtual school), afterschool programs, and college coursework for dual credit – earning high school credit and college credit at the same time.  Most students will start in structured class settings and build their capacity for more self-directed learning over time. 

Because we are a part of AACPS, we have developed a conversion system so that their portfolio-based Competency scoring will earn them credits that look much the same on their external-facing transcripts and would transfer to other school districts or other AACPS schools seamlessly.  Our diploma will be recognized by AACPS and by colleges and universities just like any other public high school diploma.