Program Components

Individual Learning Goals
Horizons students collaborate with teachers and parents to identify individual learning goals. Homeroom teachers conference with the student and his or her parents twice during the school year to review student progress. Each student's abilities, strengths, interests, and learning styles are used to establish challenging, achievable learning goals. Horizons students have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery in a variety of ways, including projects, presentations, exhibitions, portfolios, and test performance.

Small, Multi-Age Classes
Teachers work with multi-aged classes of 16-18 students. Ideally students remain with a teacher for two to three years, maximizing relationships and the teacher’s ability to quickly identify and meet students’ needs.

Role of Teachers
The teachers, as facilitators of learning, have responsibility for developing curriculum, differentiating instruction, and assessing student progress.

Special Needs
Teachers, the Special Education Team, and paraeducators collaborate to address student needs in the classroom. Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are developed and implemented in accordance with BVSD, state of Colorado, and federal guidelines.

Additional Components of Middle School Academics:

Requirements
Middle school requirements include projects and tasks that each student must complete quarterly in language arts, math, science, social studies, Spanish, applied technology, P.E., and visual/performing arts. In addition, students are required to complete 12 hours each of family, school, and community service. Instruction and learning experiences are related to the requirements, and students are expected to complete them with quality work that reflects their knowledge, ability, and skill level. Students demonstrate completion of the requirements through learning portfolios, which are shared with teachers and parents.

Middle School Exploratories
Middle School Exploratories consist of two two-hour elective classes each Friday. Classes continue for approximately one month. Exploratories build upon the school curriculum and offer students hands-on opportunities (such as labs and field trips) to explore content in more depth. All middle school students participate in social studies and science related Exploratories. Additionally they participate in applied technology labs and performances. These electives address the developmental need of adolescents, stressing hands-on, experiential learning, career awareness, and creative and social self-expression. The classes also provide opportunities for students to explore a wide range of interests, participate in a variety of social groupings, and to build positive, supportive relationships with a variety of adult role models.