E.O. Smith High School at the Depot Campus provides a ‘non traditional educational experience’ for students who have demonstrated the need for a smaller and more personal instructional setting.  In cooperation with The Big Learning Company, The Depot staff has an opportunity to offer students in our district an educational experience that is grounded in ‘real world” internship experiences and individualized learning plans derived from students’ interests. The school is organized around an “advisory” model in which students stay with the same teacher/advisor for all four years of their high school experience.   All students are expected to spend at least two full days a week participating in an off-campus internship with a site mentor.

In addition to a faculty advisor, each student’s “educational team” includes a community mentor, their parents/guardians, the director of the Depot Campus, and the support of the other students in their “advisory” group.

Students do not receive traditional grades nor do they follow a traditional curriculum.  Instead, students are expected to demonstrate their mastery of specific learning goals through quarterly exhibitions, portfolios and public presentations.  Students are evaluated on their work by their advisor, who will write a narrative report each quarter.

The Depot Campus School has been designed to serve up to 40 students who have demonstrated the need for a different educational approach.  Although every type of learner is likely to benefit from the type of educational opportunities offered at the Depot, the admission requirements limit enrollment to students who have a significant history of underachievement or failure at the middle or secondary grade level.  It is expected that such students will gain newfound success at the Depot Campus as a direct result of the school’s philosophy of educating “one student at time.”