Academic Knowledge and Skills

• Reading, Writing, and Literacy

  • The ability to read with comprehension, think critically about texts, write clearly for a range of purposes and audiences, and use language effectively to learn, communicate, and contribute to an active personal and professional life.

    • Comprehension: Analyzing texts for meaning, bias, reliability, and purpose

    • Writing for targeted audiences: Ability to be focused and persuasive, understanding the goal of your writing

    • Digital Literacy: Navigating digital texts and evaluating online sources

    • Using literacy skills to access academic content (Civics, Social Studies, Performance Arts, World Languages): Ability to read, comprehend, and analyze new content

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • Can I read, write, and think across subjects — and tell good information from bad?

      • Can I read something challenging and explain the main point in my own words?

      • Do I check whether information is trustworthy before I believe or share it?

      • Can I write clearly for different purposes — an essay, a lab report, a professional email?

      • Do I understand how our government works and what's happening in the world?

      • Do I use technology responsibly and understand how AI shapes what I see online?

Cognitive Skills

• Problem Solving and Strategic Thinking

  • The ability to define problems, analyze causes, and generate and evaluate potential solutions with implementation strategies.

    • Brainstorming: Evaluating the pros and cons of multiple approaches

    • Resourcefulness: Creatively using available resources

    • Adaptability: Adjusting course when initial approaches do not work

    • Transfer: Applying skills learned to new and unfamiliar situations

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • When things go wrong or get complicated, can I figure out a path forward?

      • Do I take time to understand a problem before I rush to fix it?

      • Can I come up with more than one way to solve a problem?

      • When Plan A doesn't work, can I develop a Plan B?

      • Can I take a big, overwhelming problem and break it into smaller steps?

      • Can I use what I've learned in school to solve real problems outside of school?

Cognitive Skills

• Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning 

  • The disciplined process of evaluating information, questioning assumptions, and identifying logical fallacies.

    • Inquiry and Curiosity: Asking thoughtful questions in the interest of understanding ‘why’ or ‘how’

    • Evaluating Evidence: Distinguishing between fact and opinion and assessing source credibility

    • Argument Construction: Building logical, well-supported arguments and defending positions with evidence

    • Perspective: Considering multiple viewpoints, identifying bias, and evaluating information from different angles

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • Do I question what I hear and think for myself, or just accept things at face value?

      • When I hear a claim — in class, in the news, on TikTok — do I ask 'What's the evidence?'

      • Can I tell the difference between a fact and an opinion?

      • Do I consider viewpoints different from my own?

      • When I take a position on something, can I back it up with real evidence?

      • Am I aware of how my background and personal experiences impact my perspective?

Character and Collaboration

• Resilience, Grit, and Perseverance

  • The capacity to persist through challenges, recover from setbacks, and emerge stronger from adversity.

    • Response to failure: Treating mistakes as opportunities for growth

    • Emotional regulation: Managing emotions of frustration, anxiety, and disappointment, and continuing towards goals

    • Sustained Persistence: Maintaining effort and focus to achieve long-term goals

    • Self-Care and Optimism: A belief that effort matters and that one can positively impact outcomes

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • When things get hard, do I push through — or do I shut down?

      • When I fail at something, do I learn from it and try again — or avoid it?

      • Can I keep working toward a goal even when it's boring, hard, or slow?

      • When I'm stressed or frustrated, do I have healthy ways to deal with it?

      • Do I believe that effort leads to improvement — even when I'm not naturally good at something?

      • Can I point to a time I pushed through something really difficult and came out better?

Practical Competencies

• Communication (Written, Verbal, and Listening)

  • The ability to express ideas clearly and concisely through writing and speaking, while developing the ability to listen to others effectively.

    • Clear Expression: Ability to organize and deliver information in a purposeful manner 

    • Active Listening: Listening to understand rather than to respond

    • Professional Communication: Composing effective communications and presentations across multiple platforms

    • Public Speaking: Confidently speaking before groups using structured and engaging presentations 

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • Can I get my point across clearly and actually listen when others speak?

      • Can I explain something complicated so that someone who knows nothing about it would understand?

      • When someone's talking to me, am I truly listening — or just waiting for my turn?

      • Could I write a professional email right now that's clear and appropriate?

      • Am I comfortable speaking in front of a group?

      • When I disagree with someone, can I share my view without it turning into a fight?

Academic Knowledge and Skills

• Math and Quantitative Reasoning

  • The ability to understand, interpret, and apply mathematical concepts, scientific reasoning, and quantitative information in everyday life and professional contexts. Quantitative reasoning goes well beyond classroom math — it includes the capacity to work with data, make sense of statistics, estimate calculations, understand probability, and apply mathematical reasoning to new situations.

    • Computational Fluency: Applying math confidently in daily life

    • Interpretation of Data: Ability to read and interpret charts, graphs, and data sets

    • Evidence-Based Scientific Thinking: Using available data and scientific reasoning to solve problems

    • Application to real-world contexts (Practical Arts, Science, AI, Computer Science): Applying these skills to access new content and subjects

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • Can I use numbers, data, and logic to make sense of the world around me?

      • When I see a statistic online, can I tell if it's being used fairly or if it's misleading?

      • Can I do everyday math confidently — tips, discounts, splitting a bill, comparing prices?

      • If I see or hear a claim about healthcare, the environment, or science, can I evaluate the supporting evidence?

      • Can I read a graph or chart and explain what it actually shows?

      • Do I understand enough about technology to make smart choices about the tools I use?

Cognitive Skills

• Decision-Making and Judgement

  • The capacity to make thoughtful, informed choices by gathering relevant information, considering alternatives, and weighing short-term and long-term consequences

    • Informational Analysis: Seeking out accurate and relevant facts, perspectives, and data to support decision-making

    • Values Alignment: Making choices that reflect personal priorities and long-term goals

    • Risk Assessment: Evaluating potential risks to make calculated choices

    • Reflective Learning: Reviewing past decisions and applying lessons moving forward

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • Do I think through my choices carefully, or do I just go with the moment?

      • Before a big decision, do I stop to think it through or just act on impulse?

      • Do I consider how my decisions will affect the future — not just right now?

      • Can I make my own choices even when friends are encouraging or pressuring me to do something else?

      • Do I know which decisions are easy to undo and which ones really matter?

      • When a decision doesn't turn out well, do I think about what I'd do differently in the future?

Character and Collaboration

• Responsibility and Accountability

  • The ability to take ownership of one’s actions, follow through on commitments, and accept the consequences of one’s choices.

    • Integrity: Acting honestly and doing the right thing, even when it is difficult

    • Internal Motivation: Managing impulses and driving oneself to meet high standards

    • Ownership of Mistakes: Acknowledging errors, learning from them, and taking responsibility for making things right

    • Community Responsibility: Contributing positively to one’s school, family, and community

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • Do I keep my word, own my actions, and do the right thing — even when no one's watching?

      • When I say I'll do something, do I actually follow through?

      • When I make mistakes, do I own it — or do I make excuses and blame others?

      • Do I put in real effort because I want to, not just because someone's grading me?

      • Would the people in my life call me someone they can count on?

      • Do I think about how my choices affect the people around me?

Practical Competencies

• Financial Literacy and Money Management

  • The foundational knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions with regard to earnings, spending, saving, investing, and borrowing.

    • Budgeting: Establishing a budget, tracking income and spending within one’s means

    • Saving and Investing: Understanding the concepts of saving, compound interest, and planning for the future

    • Credit and Borrowing: Understanding loans, interest rates, and credit scores

    • Income and Taxes: Understanding paycheck deductions and taxes, as well as filing state and federal income taxes

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • Do I understand how money works well enough to manage my own?

      • Could I make a monthly budget right now and actually stick to it?

      • Do I know the difference between what I need and what I want?

      • Can I explain what a credit score is and why it matters?

      • If I got a paycheck, would I understand the deductions and my actual take-home pay?

      • Do I have a plan for saving money — and do I understand how investing early pays off?

Practical Competencies

• Time Management and Organization

  • The ability to plan, prioritize, and manage demands and deadlines.

    • Prioritization: Ability to identify the most important tasks and differentiate between the important and the urgent

    • Tracking Progress: Establishing and maintaining specific, time-bound goals to measure progress 

    • Calendar and Deadline Management: Breaking projects into smaller tasks and working backward to ensure on-time completion

    • Balance and Boundaries:  Managing competing demands and balancing academics, activities, and personal life

  • Reflection Questions for Students, Staff, & Families

    • Am I in control of my time, or is my time in control of me?

      • Do I plan my week, or do I just react to whatever's due next?

      • For big projects, do I start early and break them into steps — or cram at the last minute?

      • Do I use my time on purpose, or do I lose hours to my phone without realizing it?

      • Do I know the difference between what's urgent and what's actually important?

      • Can I balance school, activities, friends, and downtime without constantly feeling overwhelmed?