HS Portfolio Requirements

All high school students in grades 9 – 11 are required to compile a portfolio.  A portfolio consists of specified items that display a student’s growth and proficiency in each of The New School’s Essential Skills:

1.  Acts in the benefit of the community

2.  Thinks and acts ethically

3.  Works collaboratively

4.  Communicates effectively

5. Works creatively

6.  Solves problems

7. Persists in achieving quality

8.  Applies effective research methods

9.  Manages materials and time to accomplish goals

10.  Works independently

11.  Appreciates and understands different perspectives

12.  Makes connections and is aware of context
 

At the end of each quarter, students should select items that they have worked on in their classes

that demonstrate their work on the essential skills.  In subsequent quarters, items demonstrating

the same skill should be added to the portfolio. Although later work may be of better quality than

earlier pieces, students should not remove earlier items, as a collection of items demonstrating a

skill and its development is the best way to show growth toward mastery.  By the end of the third

quarter each student (freshmen, sophomores, and juniors) should complete the portfolio selection

form for each skill and review the portfolio’s contents with his/her advisor.
 

Early in the fourth quarter of a student’s junior year, he/she is required to have a completed

portfolio. The junior presents the portfolio to a review committee consisting of his/her advisor, at

least one other teacher, parents, and interested others. The committee discusses not only

individual items but also the strengths and weaknesses of the junior’s skills. A successful

portfolio review during junior year indicates a student’s readiness to begin work on a Senior

Exhibition and establishes eligibility for senior privileges. Following a successful portfolio

review, senior privileges can begin in the final quarter of junior year.

Students who enter The New School as juniors must still complete the Portfolio requirement by

the end of junior year (an exception is made for the community service requirement until after the

summer). Some portfolio items may be samples of work from the student’s previous high school.

Seniors who have not completed their portfolios are not eligible for senior privileges. While such a student may begin working on his/her senior exhibition benchmarks, he/she will not have these benchmarks evaluated until his/her portfolio has been presented and approved.