Where you send your children to school is important. In Hopkins, our goal is to provide rigorous learning that is personalized, culturally affirming, and inquiry-driven. In addition to engaging learning in child-centered classrooms, research suggests that the quality of a school community (the students, teachers, and staff your child interacts with on a daily basis) is a powerful contributor to a students’ current and future success.
Compelling research from some of the nation’s top universities finds that students who are educated in diverse, integrated schools (like the ones in Hopkins) benefit in the following ways:
1. Engage in more critical thinking and are stronger problem solvers: In Hopkins, we are building students’ skills so they can demonstrate the graduate traits of critical and holistic thinker. We build these skills in multiage classrooms, through interactive, project-based learning, and through International
Baccalaureate programming.
2. Have a higher sense of belonging: In Hopkins, every
student belongs. All families are celebrated and we empower all voices to be heard. Teachers help guide our students to develop empathy, perspective-taking, and behaviors that demonstrate
inclusivity. Authentic inclusivity is a core value in Hopkins.
3. Participate in more civic engagement: In Hopkins, voice and choice are important ingredients in helping students see that they can be agents of the change they want to see in the world. There are many opportunities for students in Hopkins schools to practice civic engagement — mock elections, advocacy groups like Hopkins Speaks Out, serving on Student Council, and
social-change learning.
4. Feel an increased sense of physical safety at school: Students in diverse schools report higher levels of physical safety than students in racially-isolated schools. Diverse schools create a space and place where everyone can feel authentically included and therefore feel a greater sense of safety and belonging.
5. See more growth in test scores, particularly in the high school years: Because integrated classrooms yield higher levels of critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, these skills and attributes eventually contribute to higher test scores. Unlike segregated school districts where the racial gap in test scores is larger — integrated school districts have a reduced disparity in test score results.
6. Have more practice using leadership skills and are
better prepared for the real world: In integrated settings, there are more frequent opportunities for students to exercise
leadership and demonstrate their expertise in an area of interest. Students who spent their E-12 years in Hopkins have been educated in a real-world setting for 13+ years. Transitioning to the world beyond Hopkins is a natural segue.
Being educated in classrooms that truly reflect the real world adds immeasurable value to our students preparedness and ability to engage in critical thinking and demonstrate global-mindedness. This is why, in Hopkins, we are working swiftly toward personalized learning that focuses on strong academic skills — to ensure that our students are prepared to lead and thrive into their brilliant futures.
Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, Superintendent