SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — An alternative high school in West Valley is seeing the efforts of its unique approach on learning pay off for students.
A school day at Dishman Hills looks a little different than you might except. Class time is shorter, there are no lockers, and what you learn is tailored to your interests and needs.
For senior Noah Hobbs, this non-traditional style of education has been transformative.
“I feel like now since our school systems are getting bigger, everything has become a lot more uniform. Dishman gives us a lot more opportunity for individuality, especially with our personalized learning,” Hobbs said.
This fall, Dishman Hills was recognized by the National Alternative Education Association for completing a three-year professional development program.
The graduation rate at the school has more than doubled in the last ten years. It’s schools course pass rate has also gone up 31% over the last two school years. Dishman Hills’ principal Lauren House, says this is largely due to their renewed focus on personalized learning. Now, the school is working to mentor other schools through these educational practices.