Portrait of a
New Village Academy Graduate
Graduates of New Village Academy
are not just prepared, they are already practitioners of important adult skills like self-directed decision-making, collaboration, critical thinking, and community.
Every New Village graduate has already...
Crafted a portfolio demonstrating academic mastery and personal growth
Earned college credit and been accepted to a 2- or 4-year college
Gained at least 450 hours of direct career experience
Built a personal and professional network of support
Contributed a powerful voice to impact a real community challenge
About Competency-Based Education
Competency-based education shifts the focus of teaching and learning to the skills students learn instead of the time spent in a classroom.
In traditional high schools, students receive grades in each subject that reflect a confusing combination of whether they completed assignments, whether they tried hard and behaved well, and whether they learned the skills expected in the class.
In competency-based education, students show their learning in a portfolio to prove they have learned a skill at a high enough level to receive credit. It doesn't matter where they learned the skill - in class, on their own, or in an internship or after-school community-based activity.
Students and families know exactly what skills students have mastered, and which ones they are not yet meeting so that they can get feedback, close gaps, and move forward.
Academic skills, life and career skills, communication skills, and personal growth skills are all important, but are considered separately not blended into one grade for a class.
New Village Academy uses Beacon, a learning management system by Building 21 that supports competency-based learning, but converts scores to a traditional grading system at the end of each school year so that New Village students can have widely-recognized AACPS high school transcripts and diploma.
Beacon Rubric Example
Competencies Required for Graduation
Communication, Advocacy, and Self-Expression
I can write and speak effectively to express my ideas, to inform others, and to advocate for change. (Gateway 1 and 2)
I can use digital tools to engage in learning, citizenship, and professional growth, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) and online tools (research tools, email, website design, online meetings, etc.) (Gateway 1 and 2)
I can analyze my identity as a combination of personal uniqueness, family belonging, cultural tradition, and shared history (of Annapolis, Maryland, the US, and the world). (Gateway 1)
I can conduct credible research, in collaboration with others and individually, to assemble and communicate a body of knowledge on a topic of interest to me. (Gateway 1 and 2)
I can make a genuine contribution to the Annapolis Community, by identifying, investigating, problem-solving, and taking action to address a community need. (Gateway 1 and 2)
Character and Leadership
I can contribute to the New Village Academy community by consistently acting as crew, not as a passenger – carrying my weight when collaborating with my crew and project teams, supporting others in their struggles, and taking responsibility for repairing damage when I make mistakes. (Gateway 1 and 2)
I can exhibit exemplary Habits of Character in two or more of the following areas: integrity, courage, tenacity, collaboration, and responsibility and show proficiency and maturity in all 5 Habits of Character. (Gateway 1 and 2)
I can exhibit exemplary Habits of Mind in two or more of the following areas: perspective-taking, inquiry, innovation, craftsmanship, and communication, and show proficiency and maturity in all 5 Habits of Mind. (Gateway 1 and 2)
I can effectively use the skills of mindfulness to monitor and regulate my emotions and become more self-aware in my relationships with others. (Gateway 1 and 2)
I can demonstrate leadership by designing a project of genuine interest to me, assembling a team, leading research, leading implementation, and leading reflection on the project. (Gateway 2)
Life Proficiencies and Career Path
I can choose a viable career pathway based on my interests, strengths, and a variety of experiences. (Gateway 1 transition)
I can exhibit exemplary workplace professionalism in WBL placements in my chosen field of interest. (Gateway 1 and 2)
I can develop the skills, knowledge, and experiences to prepare myself for a post-secondary college or career pathway that results in financial stability and connects my strengths, my interests, and my life goals. (Gateway 2)
I can create a financial plan for my future, identifying estimated income sources in my career path and estimated expenses and savings at age 25, 45, and 65. (Gateway 2)
I can demonstrate practical life skills in finance, civic participation, and maintaining a home. (Gateway 2)
Academic Competencies
I can demonstrate the essential academic skills necessary to be a successful adult by meeting Maryland and AACPS requirements for high school graduation.
These requirements include:
passing all four required proficiency tests (MCAP, MISA) (Gateway 1)
completing service-learning requirements (Gateway 1)
earning required credits through project-based learning, independent study, LTI work, or traditional coursework (Gateway 1 and 2)
o 4 credits each of Math and Language Arts
o 3 credits each of Social Studies and Science
o 0.5-1.0 credits each in Health, PE, Technology, Global Community Citizenship, and the Arts.
I can demonstrate the ability to educate myself through five basic approaches to learning (Gateway 1 and 2)
Quantitative Reasoning – modeling and problem-solving, logical reasoning, and analyzing and representing data
Empirical Reasoning – designing and conducting scientific inquiry, applying and critiquing scientific theories
Social Reasoning – considering diverse perspectives, critically evaluating sources of information, understanding the role of a citizen in influencing government policy and the role of government in influencing everyday life, and analyzing the influence of the past on the present.
Creative Thinking – brainstorming, aesthetic thinking, open-mindedness, and bringing imagination to the solving of problems.
Close Reading – tackling difficult texts to extract understanding, analyze the workings of the text, and synthesize information or ideas from multiple texts and types of text.