January 2012 Featured School

Minnesota New Country School

Henderson, MN

If you were going to create a new school that featured innovative learning opportunities, what would it look like?  Twenty years ago a number of parents and educators took on the challenge of creating something new and different.  No idea was too radical and every idea was heard.  Thanks to the new charter law, the opportunity became a reality and as bells and classrooms were eliminated Minnesota New Country School (MNCS) was born in 1994.

As you roll into Henderson, a booming metropolis of 900 people, you will soon find MNCS located on Main Street.  The building looks “normal” on the outside, but once you step in you will find a space that looks more like an office than a classroom.  The large open area which houses 118 desks and students in grades 6-12, plus 7 advisors (teachers), provides a community like atmosphere where learning takes place.  MNCS also has 3 special education staff, an administrative secretary, and 3 aides. 

You might notice that there are no rows of desks but rather groupings of desks around an advisor.  The students are working at their own pace, utilizing the resources around them or their computers to look up information.  Each student is responsible for approximately 1,000 hours of learning each year that must be documented and reflected on.   Students design projects that are of interest to them, while their advisor assists in making sure that they are meeting state standards upon completion. 

To get a project started the advisor will ask what topic a student might have an interest in.  A project outline or web is created and a project proposal form is completed.  The form contains questions related to what the student plans to learn upon completion as well as the tasks that need to be done.   The student will also add in state standards and the amount of credit they hope to be awarded upon completion as well the reason(s) this project will help them grow as a person.   The student will then meet with two or more adults and defend why this project has quality and if  there is no growth listed, the adults might ask why a student would waste their time on this particular project. 

Once the project is started, the advisor becomes a guide on the side offering suggestions, assisting with research, or providing that positive push to complete the project.  Each day the student will document the time they spend working on a project with a detailed explanation of their work. Once completed, the student writes a reflection of their learning, with pitfalls of the project or highlights.  The student then returns to the proposal team and defends their learning.  If projects are large (100+ hours long) the student will meet with the team fewer times than if they are completing 25 hour projects.  On any given day an advisor might be helping with 25 or more unrelated topics and finalizing credit for another 5-10.

All seniors are required to complete a 300+ hour project that is unique, provides a service to others and demonstrates full responsibility for their own learning.  Juniors have a 150+ hour project and sophomores must complete a 100+ project.  Students must present their best projects 2 times per year during a Presentation Night.  These nights are amazing as you find out what students are interested in and have a passion for.

MNCS hosts 500+ visitors each year interested in a different type of school.  When guests arrive the students give tours and the guests are invited to talk with students as this is what MNCS is really all about.  So come see what a different type of delivery system does to a student and their learning.  We would love to give you a glimpse of what goes on here.