We Believe in Growth Over Grades
While mastery-based learning is considered a progressive model of education, its roots date back to the 1960's when Benjamin Bloom published his philosophy on "Learning for Mastery." However, many argue that the foundation for Bloom's principles originated with thinkers like Aristotle and other ancient Greek philosophers. That is to say, these concepts and principles of learning have been around for a long time.
At The Peak School, we base our philosophy of learning on the ideas presented by Bloom's argument for mastery-based learning, which we define as demonstrating a certain level of proficiency in a skill before moving ahead in the curriculum. Through measuring by skills, we are able to offer students more nuanced and personalized feedback that caters to their personal learning needs. Feedback is a crucial aspect of our assessment process, and students are constantly receiving one-on-one and written narrative feedback that details how they can continue to grow as learners.
Paired with narrative feedback, teachers at The Peak School use a set of skills called Division Mastery Objectives (DMOs) to measure student understanding. Division Mastery Objectives are a set of skills that allow students to demonstrate learning before moving ahead to the next grade level and guide them toward becoming lifelong learners.
Students are assessed using skills-based rubrics that allow them to work towards a skill on a four-prong scale -Just Beginning (JB), Approaching (A), Meets (M), and Exceeds (E). These stages of development do not correspond with traditional letter grades; rather, the skills-based system allows teachers to guide and coach students toward understanding. As such, learning is more personalized and holistic.
Middle School
Our middle school program offers students in grades six through eight the opportunity to discover and develop their own voice in a collaborative community environment that promotes a tone of decency and trust.
You will learn how to become an active participant in your education through learning how to set goals, exploring content in depth, and working toward mastery in academic skills through a personalized learning environment.
Beyond the classroom, students connect to the outdoors through various outdoor education and placed-based learning initiatives, including an outdoor orientation trip, local hikes with Middle School classmates, and a winter snowshoe overnight to one of the 10th Mountain Division huts.
Upper School
Our upper school program is a unique secondary education opportunity that you will not find in many high school settings. Starting in ninth grade, students engage in challenging academics both in and out of the classroom, as experiential learning is both encouraged and supported here. In class, you may find yourself studying geomorphology on a glacier or hiking through old mining ruins to inspire your poetry. We hold you to high academic standards while fostering a sense of adventure and citizenship.
In your senior year at Peak, you develop your own capstone senior project, which serves as a cornerstone of your studies for the year. In the third quarter, we pause classroom academics for the senior class, while you embark on an internship or experiential opportunity that offers a real-life experience of your project.
Our mastery-based learning philosophy not only cultivates critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills but also character-building and life-long learning skills that serve you well beyond your years at The Peak School.