School History
Jefferson High School is the alternative high school in Jefferson Joint School District #251, located in rural Southeast Idaho. We began as a school in 1997 at the National Guard Armory in Rigby, Idaho, then moved to the Jefferson County Fair Grounds in 1998 to 2001, and finally moved to the current location (the old Midway Middle School Building) in 2002. The school is situated between a potato processing plant and agricultural farm land. The community that Jefferson High School serves, is focused around the town of Rigby with a population close to 3,500 people in city limits and nearly 25,000 more people living within a few miles.
Learning Model
Jefferson High School is transitioning to a Mastery Based Education model.
House Bill 110, passed by the Idaho Legislature during the 2015 session, directed the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) to move Idaho towards a mastery-based education model. This model will move students away from the current time-based system to a mastery-based system to allow for a more personalized and differentiated learning experience. Mastery Education (ME) requires focus on explicit, measurable, transferable learning objectives that will empower students and prepare them for the 21st Century (Idaho Code §33-1632).
What is Mastery Based Education?
Mastery Education is an education system where student progress is based upon a student’s demonstration of mastery of competencies and content, not seat time or the age or grade level of the student as stated in Idaho Code §33-1632(5)(b).
A student can accelerate through concepts and skills they have mastered and receive more time and support in areas where that may be more difficult. The new system is comprehensive and can include fundamental changes in schedules, calendars, assessment, and grading.
Key design principles were outlined in the working definition of mastery education developed by a collaboration of innovative leaders and practitioners, led by CompetencyWorks and iNACOL, include:
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Students advance upon mastery
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Competencies include explicit, measureable, transferable learning objectives that empower students
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Assessment is meaningful and a positive learning experience for students
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Students receive timely, differentiated support based on their individual learning needs
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Learning outcomes emphasize competencies that include application and creation of knowledge along with the development of important skills and dispositions.
