Shenandoah High School is a unique charter school within the El Dorado Union High School District. Shenandoah is not a vocational school or a continuation program; we provide students and families a choice in how they learn. Shenandoah is part of the Big Picture network of schools. The Big Picture school network has over 100 schools nationwide and internationally.

Shenandoah features:

• A small learning community: The student population is approximately 100. There are currently three full time advisors, two part time advisors, one director, one part time RSP teacher, one L.T.I. coordinator, and one secretary.

• Real world learning: Students complete their academic curriculum through self made projects and internships in the community. Students are required to complete 300 hours of community service in the four years they spend at Shenandoah.
  

• Open curriculum: Students at Shenandoah make independent projects that they use to complete learning goals, and further their knowlege on the subject of choice. Students can be enrolled in college classes and ROP programs. Students also get the possibility to study abroad, help the community, and learn how certain careers work first-hand through internships. The educational program is designed to fit each student’s individual passions and interests.

• Committees: Instead of after school clubs, Shenandoah has student formed committees during school. These committees are intended to help with problems at the school and also help form leadership skills.

We are currently enrolling students! To schedule a shadow day (school tour) and to get further information contact us at: (530) 622-6212.

We look forward to meeting you!

One Student at a Time

     Shenandoah’s goal is to educate one student at a time and provide a rigorous, relevant and real world education to the students who attend. We believe that students learn best when they are exploring their passions and applying their learning to the world around them. Shenandoah is not a vocational school, but we recognize the importance of teaching students how to interact in the world after high school. The school incorporates the outside world into its programs through the LTI (Learning Through Internships) program. Students are experiencing the world beyond school and the program embeds academics into the internship work.

     We believe that students will succeed in school when they have a strong connection to at least one adult in the school. As a result the classrooms at Shenandoah are structured differently than in a traditional school. Students have one teacher, called an advisor, for the full four years at Shenandoah and stay with the same classmates for their entire high school experience. The classrooms are self contained, as much of the work at Shenandoah is project based and independently motivated. Shenandoah is committed to individualized learning that teaches students critical thinking skills, gives them confidence in their own knowledge and challenges them to achieve at high levels. Ultimately, we strive to transform students into lifelong learners.

At Shenandoah students will create/ complete:

• 3 Academic, independent study projects per year.

• 6 Book of interest projects per year.

• A minimum of 1 LTI project per year.

• 300 hours of community service over 4 years.

• Assessment through exhibitions, 60 to 90 minute presentations of work to a panel of peers, parents and the teacher.

• Math classes and online programs to build skill levels.

• Work that follows their passions and interests.