Our Story
Our Story
In the spring of 2017, the Paramount Unified School District launched an ambitious undertaking: to reimagine high school. The High School Promise Initiative sparked a commitment to prepare scholars for the demands and opportunities of college, career, and life in the 21st century. In concert with the district’s Strategic Plan, the High School Promise Initiative has been the catalyst for creating new opportunities for raising scholar achievement to new heights, including the launch of a new small high school focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) – Odyssey STEM Academy.
Our Mission
Odyssey STEM Academy empowers learners by awakening their curiosity and passion to transform themselves and the world.
Our Approach
The Odyssey Design Principles below provide current and future Odyssey community members navigation tools for the journey ahead. All Odyssey community members are learners, thus the word learner throughout the document refers to all members of the school community – scholars, staff, families, and mentors.
Equity
Our community of learners celebrates the uniqueness of everyone. Systems and structures designed for equitable access to programs and opportunities ensure academic and social-emotional well-being for all. Meaningful ties among community members foster a trusting, caring, and mutually respectful culture. Intentionally diverse and integrated learning environments create a community-wide culture of achievement so that learners thrive in a multicultural, global society.
Learner-Centric
Agency, managing one’s own learning, is cultivated through a collaborative school-wide culture that is intellectually challenging. Learners progress on a pathway unique to them. They co-construct purposeful learning experiences, monitor their progress towards learning goals, and determine how to exhibit their depth of knowledge and skill. Time and tailored support empower learners to meet high expectations in a safe learning environment that fosters innovation.
Authentic Work
Learners engage in authentic work that matters to them and the outside world. They use inquiry to design projects to tackle society’s greatest STEM challenges. Literacy, numeracy, content knowledge and skills are strengthened through connections to meaningful, culturally relevant experiences across all disciplines. Intentional use of technology ignites anytime, anywhere learning. Learners make their thinking visible by curating and sharing their work with authentic audiences.
Learning Beyond Classroom Walls
Through multiple internships and authentic projects, learners become contributing partners in their work with industry professionals. Internship projects connect to learner interests and deepen understanding throughout the curriculum. Through this work, learners navigate systems, build relationships, and establish a professional network. The mutually beneficial relationships result in academic growth and character development.
Family Engagement
Empowering learners to reach their full potential requires the combined effort of scholars, staff, families, and the community. Communication reaches beyond the standard parent-teacher conference to include families as valued and trusted participants in the learning process. Recognizing, understanding, and valuing individual backgrounds and life experiences contributes to learners’ positive socio-emotional and academic growth.
