Students with similar educational needs are grouped together.

The classroom climate is purposefully cultivated to foster social, emotional and academic growth.

Students work in a stimulating open environment which encourages risk-taking, exploration, diversity, and creativity.

Students have enhanced opportunities for thinking and learning, not just more work.

Pace or rate of learning is adjusted to students' needs and curriculum is compacted and enriched.

Skill development and demonstration of conceptual understanding is emphasized.

Choice, collaboration, and challenge are part of the learning process.

Students reflect, set goals, and self-evaluate throughout learning experiences.

Instruction tasks and activities are designed to feature higher order, critical, and creative thinking.

There is a focus on facilitation of problem solving, research, and inquiry skills.

Students will be challenged to demonstrate their learning and thinking in different ways (exams, performance tasks, projects, etc.)

Students will be engaged in the assessment process through feedback, criteria/rubrics, peer assessments, self-assessments, and other formative assessments.

The Junior High Challenge Program prepares students for:

Community High Schools; and

International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and other alternative programs.