Twinfield Union School
School Mission: The mission of the Twinfield Union School community is to educate all students to become responsible, productive, critical-thinking, lifelong-learning citizens in a safe, nurturing environment of mutual respect, high standards, creativity, and academic excellence.
Unique Child + Unique School = Meaningful Education for Individual and Community
Twinfield Union High School is the only high school in a rural K-12 district that serves roughly 300 students from Marshfield and Plainfield, just over an hour south of the Canadian border. It boasts strong student-to-teacher relationships as a benefit of the school’s small size.
About the School: Twinfield Union High School has 103 students (2% Black, 85% White, 1% Asian, 2% Hispanic, 10% Multi-racial, 0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander), 40% on Free/Reduced lunch, and 21% SWD.
Key Takeaways
Twinfield's Renaissance program allows students to choose areas of study that interest them and complete coursework through internships, independent studies, college coursework, or other options.
Twinfield's Peer Mentoring program pairs high schoolers with younger students who have similar interests, giving high school students a chance to guide younger children.
A daily advisory gives students a chance to meet with a group that remains constant through their four years of high school.
Twinfield utilizes proficiency-based grading, with priority standards being identified and work habits being assessed separately.
On Wednesdays, students do not have regular classes. The time is spent in activities, meetings, mentoring, and individual work with teachers.
Detailed Summary
Renaissance Program: Students design in-depth studies that are connected to the school’s proficiencies but not offered as courses. Based on the student’s interests and learning styles, the studies can be completed as internships, college courses, service-learning, independent research projects, study groups, and other options. Students attend regular Renaissance seminars, most involve mentoring with a professional, and learning is assessed by a panel. An average of 73% of students design one or more Renaissance studies.
Peer Mentoring: High school students take on positive leadership in the Twinfield school community by serving as mentors for younger students.
The School Profile explains highlights of the school’s teaching and learning design, such as the Teacher Advisory system and various course options such as online classes, technical education, winter and June terms, and more. More information about the school community and academic program is available in the Student and Family Handbook.
Twinfield has a long history of embracing multiple flexible pathways toward graduation to meet the diverse needs of students.
Teaching Models: personalized and proficiency-based system that requires flexibility for students to self-pace
Each student creates a website for their Personalized Learning Plan, with the guidance of their Teacher Advisor (TA), and completes passage presentations in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade.
Work habits of engagement and responsibility are assessed separately from knowledge and skills in a course.
Wednesdays have a different schedule than the rest of the week, providing time for students to meet with their teachers one-on-one and in small groups for extra help and complete work on their own. Starting with an extended TA block, students use the time to explore personalized learning activities, participate in clubs and class meetings, attend field trips and community service, and work with their peers on projects.