Halifax County
Schools, NC
Halifax County seeks to build on a culture of student engagement and achievement through rigorous, community-connected Project-Based Learning (HQPBL), following high student excitement and engagement with pilot projects and exhibitions across grade levels and student interests in the last year and a half.
RESULTS
After co-designing two powerful makerspaces at the district middle schools, all secondary teachers and schools are building community-connected projects with their students. OWL facilitators co-design with educators and leadership to showcase these high-quality projects in district-wide PBL community exhibitions that lay a foundation for greater achievement and post-graduation economic success.
1,000+
District students demonstrating their project learning to adults across schools and community roles
IMPACT
HCS secondary schools have developed many successful models of PBL that emphasize student voice, agency, and deep learning. These bright lights across the 'Lighthouse District' helped improve attendance rates, student productivity, and changed the paradigms for what the students (and their community leaders and businesses) thought possible for their own abilities and future!
Meanwhile, school and district leaders and OWL Champions plan to co-design and scale HQPBL into all elementary schools with new partners that emphasizes a growing student-centered maker culture!
"What did you like best [about the project]?"
"Everything!"
"Would you want to do it again?"
"Absolutely!"
Student Interview
HCS Empowerment Zone "EZ Eats" Food Truck Project