Schiffer Academics

John C. Schiffer Collaborative School is the leading alternative high school in the state of Wyoming. We have dedicated, caring staff members, and a committed, supportive school district and community. Assessment scores— ACT and WY-TOPP—are positive and show that students and teachers are committed to working hard in an effective learning environment.

In keeping with our mission to ensure all students acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for achieving their full potential, our academic program incorporates a variety of strategies to provide comprehensive support to students, promote collaboration and communication with parents, and encourage continuous professional development among our staff. This combined approach with our overall focus on the student has made Schiffer a leader in academic performance on the statewide WY-TOPP assessment and on the ACT. Our highly-qualified staff holds high expectations for students and develop authentic curriculum based on student need.

Among our student-focused initiatives are project-based learning, student internships, Discovery program,  Tribes/Advisory and Circle Concept. We also provide intensive remediation on Fridays to promote positive academic outcomes. We insist upon communication with parents, students and colleagues through various means, and parent/adult involvement is a core component of promoting success. This involvement/communication includes our Parent Discovery Classes, Parents for Academic Student Success (PASS) and Parent-Teacher Conferences regarding the individual learning of our students.

To incorporate continuous improvement and a culture of professionalism, our team meets weekly to collaborate with colleagues on professional development activities. Similar to other schools, we implement Professional Learning Communities to promote consistent and effective teaching practice with peer review, all with an eye toward improving student learning.