10th Grade students prepare to share their design ideas for bridges in the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Sanctuary. Their clients are the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Curriculum and Assessment at ACE Leadership

All content is taught through the lens of architecture, construction and engineering (ACE) using cutting edge projects and practices to anchor each trimester’s projects. All learning takes place through facilitated projects that are often interdisciplinary. As students complete the projects, they are learning expected skills and concepts that are aligned to New Mexico state standards and benchmarks in addition to 21st century skills that include use of technology and leadership development. Each trimester’s skills and concepts, from 9th grade through 12th grade, build upon the previous trimesters’ learning.

Students earn required credits towards graduation by demonstrating mastery of skills and concepts in addition to completing project exhibitions (see tab on home page). Evaluation of student learning is framed by what the student has mastered and what the student is still working on rather than how many assignments he has completed.

For further details, examples, or questions please contact the Director of Curriculum and Assessment, Tori Stephens-Shauger at tori@aceleadership.org or call the school at (505) 242-4733 ext. 1003. Also, please read Tori’s blog for deeper discussions related to curriculum and assessment at ACE Leadership.