In an effort to encourage more students to graduate from Los Lunas High School, we have begun the hard work of high school reform. Research around high school reform shows that three concepts—Relationships, Relevance, and Rigor—are necessary to assist students to be successful.

Principal Claudia Krause-Johnson, aided by an incredibly dedicated and skilled leadership team, is leading the faculty through a series of three hard questions:

• What do we want our graduates to “look” like?

• Are we producing that now?

• If we are not, what do we need to change?

A Smaller Learning Community (SLC) at Los Lunas High School will be built around a career theme: health, government services, teaching/legal services, performing/visual arts, agriculture, engineering, business/media technology or finance. It will be comprised of a group of students with similar interests. It will be staffed with teams of teachers who will connect core academic subjects to careers by integrating their curricula. Students will choose a career pathway in 10th grade and complete a series of courses throughout each grade level leading to graduation. Students’ transcripts will reflect a course taking pattern leading to work or post secondary education after high school.

KEY COMPONENTS OF LLHS SLC MODEL:

Freshmen Prep Academy
Extra support for Math, Reading, and Team based Academic Preparation, Career Exploration

Smaller Learning Communities
(250-350 student each)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What if students have not decided what career they are interested in?

For students who have not decided, each SLC should give them the opportunity to explore a broad career theme and learn more about opportunities. Students will be allowed to take electives across the curriculum. They will eventually take courses that support their interests.

 How do SLC’s support all students?

Students are placed in their SLC based strictly upon their interests and choices. Support for SpEd, ESL, or whatever they need is provided in each SLC.

 Are SLCs a form of tracking students?

The misconception of SLCs is that we are tracking students into a narrow career preparation pathway. We will be recommending courses that support their current career interests, knowing that these interests could change as they grow up. Enrollment is based on student interest. We will suggest specific courses, but ultimately the choice of electives is up to the student and parent.

First, we help them to figure out what they want in the future. SLCs are one way for more students to access appropriate education opportunities. Along the way, we may motivate a student to reach for higher expectations.