Vermont.gov

Vergennes Union Middle and High School has been inducted into The League of Innovative Schools, the Department announced today.

The League of Innovative Schools is comprised of secondary schools from across the state, and is affiliated with the New England Secondary Schools Consortium (NESSC). The Consortium includes Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont. The goal of the league and the consortium is to promote innovative strategies, to establish a network of best practices that is directly linked to 21st century learning and to promote greater educational equity and opportunities for all students. League schools will serve as models for local education agencies around the state shaping the future of Vermont public education.

Vergennes will be piloting the Proficiency Based Graduation Requirements (PBGR) for their freshman class next year. The hope is that within four years all high school students will be graduating based on demonstrated abilities, not simply seat time. They are also the only school in Vermont engaged in expeditionary learning, which is a program that puts emphasis on experiential learning through expeditions.

Vergennes Union Elementary School has also been on the move. Since 2005, they have seen tremendous improvements on their Annual Measurable Objectives, which are based on Addison Northwest Supervisory Union’s action plan for making Adequate Yearly Progress in Reading and Math. In all subgroups they are seeing significant progress, and they are closing the gap between students in poverty and their peers. They also focus on students’ whole development, and have a successful child nutrition program.

Earlier members of the League are: Brattleboro Union High School, U-32 Junior and Senior High School, Burlington High School, Rochester High School, Williamstown Middle/High School, Cabot School, South Burlington High School, Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans, Essex Union High School and Montpelier High School.

For more information about the League of Innovative Schools and the New England Secondary School Consortium, please contact Tom Alderman at tom.alderman@state.vt.us, or go to the NESSC website http://www.newenglandssc.org/. At Vergennes, please contact Carol Spencer, Curriculum Coordinator for Addison Northwest Supervisory Union, at 802-877-3332, ext. 13.

News Releases

Vergennes Inducted into the League of Innovative Schools