High School

Spectra School's High School Program integrates the "Dream big" value, wrapping programming around each student to create a safety net as new skills are tried and learned. Emphasis is placed on what each student wants to do after high school. Then, we plan backwards – what skills are needed; what experiences would be helpful; what sorts of different environments does the student need to experience; what kind of transportation does the student need to be familiar with; what other things does the student need to be exposed to so the student can be set up for success? How else can we help the student to dream big? If the student doesn’t have any ideas, we start with exposures to many different experiences. We use creativity, insight, resources, collaboration, and a student’s vision to make inroads.

Spectra School’s High School Program focuses on academic credits needed to graduate. All students come to us with unique transcripts; we figure out what is missing and plan accordingly. All classes at Spectra School use Student Friendly Objectives, Academic Vocabulary, different levels of thinking, and evidence outcomes. Each high school student has a graduation plan mapped out so that planning may begin accordingly for the student as well as parents, professionals, and the district. All involved are aware of the credits the student has already earned and which classes the student will need to graduate. Electives are identified and selected by the Spectra School education staff on an annual basis, depending on needs and / or interests. Specific classes can be built around an individual student.

A group of students sit around a laptop in a library.

Why Spectra?

Our High School Program is individually tailored to meet the unique vision of each student after graduation, either through the home district or through the Office of Facility Schools. We leverage as many real-life situations, community experiences, and individual interests as possible. In learning what each student needs, Spectra is able to support the accomplishment of dreams that go far beyond our Campus.

Our Academics

Spectra School is an Approved Facility School by the Colorado Department of Education. Established by Colorado Academic Standards and our own Interdisciplinary Intervention Model, Spectra School's academics are tailored to the student through an individualized curriculum based on the student's IEP. We offer the required Colorado Academic Standards-aligned curriculum for Reading, Writing, Communicating (English Language Arts), Mathematics, and Science to assist our students in transitioning back to public schools. Spectra School utilizes Extended Evidence Outcomes, if they are identified on an individual student's IEP. The curriculum and Safety Net Standards inform instruction and coursework while providing a scope and sequence for all ages, grade levels, and ability levels represented in our classes. We also embed strategies and research-based curricula to better structure instruction for our students and fill in any academic gaps. For Social Studies, information from Learning Keys and curriculum guides from a Colorado Public School will be used. These curriculum guides address government, social studies, civics, US history, and world history.

On August 3, 2011, the State Board of Education unanimously adopted the Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEOs). EEOs implement the alternate standards in Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Reading, Writing and Communicating for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the alternate assessment. These alternate expectations are directly aligned to the grade level expectations for all students.

If applicable, all students complete i-Ready diagnostics for math and reading. They also participate in state required assessments, depending on a student’s grade level. Alternatively, those who are appropriate use ABLLS and / or the alternative state assessments.

Special education students are provided services as identified in the Education Policies and Procedures. Spectra School follows all applicable state and federal laws.