Exploration High School
School performance rating
About
Languages spoken by school staff
English, Spanish
Extra programming
Extracurriculars at ExHS continue to grow based on student passions. They compete in basketball & football in the MN High School Sports League. They also have co-op sports in volleyball, soccer, & track & field. Robotics, drama, music, & a debate team have become more popular, & they are open to new extracurriculars depending on student interest.
Extracurriculars Offered:
AV/Tech Clubs, Environmental/Outdoors Clubs, Journalism/Newspaper Clubs, Music, STEM/STEAM Clubs, Sports, Theater, Visual Arts Clubs
Uniforms
Students who attend Exploration High School are not required to wear uniforms.
How to enroll
To enroll, contact Dave Heighington, Executive Director, at (612) 787-2540 or connect@explorationhighschool.org.
Students at this school
Teachers at this school
Average student to teacher ratio
Academics
Academic programming
ExHS presents an answer to the gap between traditional education & true learning. They don’t just prepare students for exams; they prepare them for life. That’s the ‘ExHS Difference.’
Through a hands-on approach & design thinking processes, they help students become problem-solvers. Teachers create these learning experiences with students, not for them.
The school encourages 9th & 10th graders to explore passions & community issues through Community Asset Projects (CAPs). During a CAP, students find a problem in their community & design ways to solve it. 11th graders do internships where they can use their passion to help a local organization & get real world experience. 12th graders have a CAPstone project that challenges them to apply the skills they learned to make their community a better place in a way that matches their goals for the future.
Academic Programs Offered:
Arts Focused Programming, Career & Technical Education (CTE), College Prep, Credit Recovery, Multi-Grade Classrooms, PSEO, Personalized Learning, Professional Internships and/or Job Shadowing, STEM/STEAM
Special education programming
ExHS works hard to create special education programming that meets the individual needs of each student. For some students, that means receiving push-in services in the general education setting, & for others that means being pulled out & receiving services in a small group setting. Ideally all students will get to a point where they can receive all services within the general education setting. Special educators work closely with teachers to ensure that the curriculum is accessible to all students. ExHS values collaboration with families as well, & works with families to come up with a plan for their students to do well, not only in high school, but after graduation as well. Their biggest priority is establishing relationships, amplifying student voices, promoting student independence, & working towards future goals. Special education is a collective & collaborative effort.
English language learner programming
ExHS’s ELD program is designed to empower students linguistically & help them achieve their learning targets while fostering the growth of their higher-order thinking skills. Small class sizes allow for more individualized support.
The school follows the WIDA standards & utilizes academic language supports that help all students do well in class. They believe that language proficiency goes hand in hand with the ability to analyze, synthesize, & evaluate complex information, which are essential skills for success in education & beyond.
Lessons & assessments are tailored to students’ language proficiency levels, allowing them to gradually build a strong foundation in English language skills. ExHS’s goal is to create an environment where all students can confidently express themselves, engage with academic content, & contribute meaningfully to class discussions & projects.
Climate
78%
School values
Exploration High School (ExHS)—a public school for public good—is led by students, powered by teachers, & rooted in community. Their premise: in a world surrounded by fast-moving cultural, technological, political, & societal change, traditional educational models are hopelessly outdated. Their mission is to empower young people to be changemakers in the community, as they actively learn to navigate this complex world.
Discipline Policy
ExHS works hard to build strong familial relationships in the community, yet they know that even in the strongest families, conflict will arise. As an organization dedicated to Restorative Practices, they embrace conflict as a natural & important part of healthy communities, & they work hard to develop the habits, skills, & mindsets that help students resolve conflict peacefully & productively.
Teacher retention
Attendance
Equity
87%
Equity vision
ExHS students have a direct voice into not only how their own education is designed, but also in the way their school works from classroom teaching to school culture to the administration. This brings equity & creativity into the school’s design & operations. Students contribute to their teachers’ professional development, make decisions related to food services, set up school-wide initiatives like the mental health team, & work with board committees. ExHS gives students the tools & experiences to create space for their diverse student body to have a voice & make choices about their learning.
