At Summit Shasta, educators are committed to a strong mission and culture that prioritizes developing students’ ability to be self-directed and self-motivated lifelong learners. Summit Shasta—like all Summit Public Schools—works to equip each student with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to pursue whichever postsecondary pathway aligns with their passion, values, and interests. The school relies on the Concrete Next Step program—which started as a pilot with support from XQ and is now in use not only at Summit Shasta but throughout the entire Summit Public Schools charter network. Students are encouraged to think about and plan for their future starting in 9th grade, mapping their courses, extracurriculars, and work experiences.
The school offers an integrated, purpose-based curriculum culminating in an oral defense given to a personal advisory board of student-selected mentors. These projects help students explore and develop skills and plans for life after high school.
Summit Shasta educators support students in their personal and academic growth through the school’s Habits of Success Framework, which focuses on challenge-seeking, persistence, strategy-shifting, and appropriate help-seeking. As part of the Summit Public Schools charter network, Shasta benefits from the Marshall Teacher Residency program, designed to build a long-term, sustainable pipeline of teachers who reflect the student body and are prepared to lead high-quality, personalized learning classrooms at learner-centered schools. The school’s approach to education is grounded in what science tells us about how students learn best.
