AS ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS in the world, ONE STONE IS a PREMIER ALTERNATIVE FOR STUDENTS LOOKING TO GROW FAR BEYOND A G.P.A.

The One Stone high school is an innovative, student-driven lab school that values growth over grades. Based in Boise, Idaho, we empower high school students to discover themselves, do good, and build real-world relevant problem-solving skills. Students become confident leaders by developing the mindsets, creativity, knowledge, and skills needed to thrive right now and in a rapidly changing future.

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APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL year ARE NOW OPEN!

Discover yourself.
Develop your strengths.
Learn what you are passionate about.

Before spending up to $400,000 or more on college tuition and four years pursuing a degree only to learn you aren’t actually interested in that career field, come to One Stone, where you will:

  • Love learning and enjoy coming to school everyday because each day is filled with meaning, challenge, relevance, passion, and kindness.

  • Explore the world through vigorous and engaging learning alongside inspiring peers and adult coaches and mentors, as well as industry, academic, and community leaders and experts.

  • Grow as a well-rounded and happy learner who knows who you are and why your learning matters. Set personal goals, reflect often, and connect your learning to your life and future self.

  • Drive your learning, own your journey, and make it personalized. Choose, plan, and/or help lead learning experiences that are relevant to you based on your personal goals, abilities, and curiosities.

Do good.
Solve real-world problems.
Build confidence as a leader.

If you are kind and motivated to help others, One Stone will help you become a super skilled and engaged citizen and a leader who is able to:

  • Listen, understand, and meet the needs of our common humanity now, and into the future. Learn to lead with empathy, innovation, and a desire to help others to create lasting change.

  • Solve big organizational or societal challenges alongside global, national, and community partners using human-centered design, a process created at Stanford’s d.school. 

  • Experience and drive the future of learning via transformative leadership opportunities and partnerships in education, industry, government, technology, and nonprofit sectors.

Thrive today and in a rapidly
changing future.

At One Stone, you’ll learn to adapt, pivot, think on your feet, manage yourself and others, build lifelong relationships with academic experts and industry leaders, and be at the forefront of innovative education. Don’t wait until graduation to navigate complex challenges with confidence. Get started now.

  • Identify, secure, and engage in multiple internships, job shadows, work experiences, leadership positions, and college-level academic opportunities before investing time and money into a college or a career. 

  • Learn to produce and design professional-quality work (technology, art, media, brands, products, services, systems, or events) with client partnerships with local, national, and global organizations.

  • Graduate with a toolkit for life that prepares you for a rapidly changing world, economy, and job market. Develop and measure the growth of marketable competencies, professional habits of work, and transferable skills.

1) According 2023 Exit Survey. 2) Includes math, coding, engineering, English language arts, social science, science, art, music, marketing, entrepreneurship, design thinking, wayfinding, college and career exploration, college admissions counseling, and more. 3) Includes 14 advanced degrees (M.A., M.B.A., M.B.S., M.Ed., M.S., PhD,) and professional expertise in biochemistry research, outdoor education, marketing, design, mathematics, zoology and life sciences, humanities; human rights; art; music; youth leadership development; computer science; and clinical counseling.

 

SCHEDULE A ONE STONE INQUIRY TOUR

If you have already scheduled a tour, please complete the Pre-Tour Questionnaire below.

 

PRE-TOUR QUESTIONNAIRE

Parents, Guardians, or Prospective High School Students:
Submit this form prior to your tour or if you would like more information about One Stone’s high school.

 

UNDERSTANDING ONE STONE’S
GROWTH FRAMEWORK

The Growth Framework uses a competency-based approach to learning and assessment that
addresses the needs of today’s learner. The Growth Framework was developed at One Stone’s lab school and now One Stone’s Bold Learning Objectives (BLOB) and One Stone’s Growth Transcript are being customized, implemented, and tested in partner schools in California, North Carolina, Washington, and Florida. Over 750 students (grades 5-12) are now using the Growth Framework and over 160 colleges and universities have accepted at One Stone’s premier high school in Boise, Idaho and our partner school’s students using the Growth Transcript.

 

THE BLOB

One Stone’s Bold Learning Objectives, or BLOB, focuses on four key areas of learning: mindset, creativity, skills, and knowledge. Each area includes cognitive and non-cognitive competencies and dispositions and is supported by research-based learning objectives and criteria for mastery. Through their work in relevant, real-world experiences, students develop the social and emotional skills necessary for a growth mindset; they learn how to approach challenges and solve complex problems creatively; and they gain professional skills required of leaders who pursue their passions with confidence and purpose.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment at One Stone is rigorous and formative and includes data taken from performance-based evaluations, peer-to-peer reviews, self-evaluations, coach observations and written feedback. Assessment practices measure competencies and growth over time in traditional disciplinary areas (Knowledge), as well as social-emotional development (Mindset), real-world problem solving using human centered design (Creativity), and professional habits of work (Skills).

GROWTH TRANSCRIPT

The Growth Transcript is One Stone’s dynamic goal setting, coaching, and assessment tool that measures growth over time in a broad range of real-world skills and competencies. The Growth Transcript reflects the application (skill and ability to apply), agency (voice, choice, and ownership), and contexts (academic, professional, social, and emotional) in which students are practicing across the four domains of the BLOB: mindset, creativity, skills, and knowledge.

““I use my Growth Transcript to set intentional goals, to reflect on the growth I’ve experienced at One Stone, and as a tool to communicate my growth with others. It helps me identify what brings me joy, struggle, and passion within my own learning.””
— NORA SMART, CLASS OF 2025

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One Stone provides year-round learning and leadership opportunities that bring greater meaning and engagement to the learner experience.

FALL AND SPRING TERMS

Each year, the fall and spring schedules and learning opportunities are designed by students, for students. Learning happens everywhere, all the time, and takes a variety of different shapes and forms.

Over the years, students and coaches have designed and engaged in explorations, immersions, workshops, design labs, basecamps, community reads, deep dives, dream dives, cannonballs, and more. Regardless of what it’s called, learning at Lab51 is student driven, transformational, designed by and for students to find meaning, elevate humankind, and practice and develop powerful competencies needed to thrive in the real world and in rigorous college environments.

WINTER EXPLORATION

Winter Exploration is a one-month term where students engage in personal introspection, self-reflection, and future planning and prototyping. Students work closely with their mentors to develop practical tools to explore their passions,
re-frame challenges, and navigate challenging life and career decisions and opportunities. 

SUMMER EXPERIENCE

Through Summer Experience, students engage in a real-world internship, job shadow, or other professional or academic learning experience in a field of passion or personal interest. The goals of the program are twofold: first, students gain hands-on experience in areas of interest to help them make choices about their education and their future; second, they learn and practice professional skills. In advance of summer, students develop a professional resume, cover letter, and prepare for in-person interviews. During the summer months, students develop goal-specific reflections, receive a performance review from their summer experience mentor, and present their learning during a week of reflection.

HIGH SCHOOL TUITION

In a “Family Individualized Tuition” (FIT) model, each family makes a financial commitment to the school that is based on the family’s ability to pay.

  • Multiple financial factors determine each family’s personalized tuition amount. 

  • Every family receives a FIT amount based on calculations from a third party that are applied to our model—two different families with identical financial factors will receive the same FIT price.

  • FIT calculations are broken down into tiers. Each tier represents the range of financial investment each family will make. The tier levels are determined by the gross income of all adults who share financial responsibility for the student, and the final FIT within each of those tiers is determined by a number of financial factors, including the number of people each family is supporting.

  • Tier 1 – Income of up to $75,000: FIT of $1,500 to $5,325 per year

    Tier 2 – Income of $75,001 to $125,000: FIT of $5,326 to $9,150 per year

    Tier 3 – Income of $125,001 to $200,000: FIT of $9,151 to $12,975 per year

    Tier 4 – Income over $200,001: FIT of $12,976 to $16,800 per year

  • Although we do not offer multiple student discounts, tuition for multiple students is a factor in determining a family’s FIT.

  • Individual meetings will be offered to any family who wishes to discuss their FIT. These meetings will occur after the family has completed their financial analysis and received their FIT. If necessary, factors not considered in the financial analysis can be discussed at that time.

  • School and Student Services (SSS) is a confidential third party that will analyze financial information. The service provides a private, independent analysis of each family’s financial situation. SSS charges a $55 fee per family for this service. The SSS application will require financial information and will take about an hour to complete. Parents will be able to access the SSS portal following One Stone’s acceptance of their student. Contracts for existing students will be renewed annually in the spring.

  • One Stone offers flexible payment plans including 1 full payment, 2 payments, or monthly payments depending on family preference.

    As we’re sure you understand, it is critical to One Stone’s operations that tuition amounts are collected. Given that, families who do not pay their FIT in full at the beginning of the school year will be required to pay for tuition insurance. That is a very standard process for private and independent schools. Tuition insurance generally costs 1-2% of the total tuition cost.

  • A Section 529 plan may be an option to pay for your FIT. Please consult with your tax advisor for more information.

  • Tuition does not completely cover the One Stone's cost of operating the high school. Currently, tuition only covers 40% of the costs and our goal is to ultimately reach a point where tuition is paying for at least 60% of the cost.

    Additional fundraising, grant writing, sponsorship, and other revenue generating initiatives are critical to One Stone's financial sustainability.

  • Please email FIT@onestone.org with specific tuition questions.

Accreditation

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One Stone currently holds Candidate Member status with the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). Candidate Member status is the final step in a rigorous accreditation process and is reserved for schools that the NWAIS Board of Governors has approved as being able to meet the NWAIS Major Standards. One Stone is on track to earn full accreditation.

Learn More about One Stone's Accreditation Status >

College Acceptances

Colleges, universities, and employers welcome our students because they are equipped with the right mindset, creativity, skills, and knowledge to thrive in rigorous learning and professional environments.

Acadia University
Alaska Pacific University
Arizona State University
Bard College
Belmont University
Bennington College
Biola University
Boise State University
Brandeis University
Brigham Young University - Idaho
California College of the Arts
California Polytechnic State University California State Monterey Bay
Canada Thompson Rivers University
Champlain College
Colby College
College of Idaho
College of Southern Idaho
College of the Atlantic
College of Western Idaho
Colorado College
Colorado Mountain College
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Columbia College
Columbia College Chicago
Concordia University (Montreal)
Cornell College
Cornish College of the Arts
Denison University
Dixie State University
Drexel University
Eckerd College
Emerson College
Evergreen State College
Florida Southern College
Franklin and Marshall College
George Fox University
George Washington University
Gonzaga University
Goshen College
Goucher College
Grand Canyon University
Grinnell College
Guilford College
Hamilton College

Hampshire College
Hawaii Pacific University
Hendrix College
Hollins University
Humboldt State University
Idaho State University
Indiana University - Bloomington
Kent State University
Kenyon College
Lewis & Clark College
Linfield College
Loyola Marymount University
Mercyhurst University
Middlebury College
Mills College
Montana State University
Mount Holyoke College
Naropa University
New College of Florida
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona University
Northwest Nazarene University
Occidental College
Oregon State University
Otis College of Art and Design
Pace University
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Pacific University
Parsons School of Design
Pepperdine University
Point Loma Nazarene
Portland Community College
Portland State University
Providence Christian
Randolph College
Reed College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island School of Design
Rocky Mountain College
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art and Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle University
Stony Brook University
Texas State University
Thompson Rivers University
Tulane University

Universal Technical Institute
University of Arizona
University of Brighton
University of California Davis
University of California Irvine
University of California San Diego
University of California Santa Cruz
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Denver
University of Essex
University of Hawaii Manoa
University of Idaho
University of Kent
University of Maine
University of Maine (Fort Kent)
University of Miami
University of Montana
University of Nevada
University of Oregon
University of Portland
University of Puget Sound
University of Rochester
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Wyoming
Utah Valley University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Warren Wilson College
Washington State University
Watson Institute
Wellesley College
Wells University
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Western Washington University
Westminster College
Wheaton College
Whitman College
Whittier College
Whitworth University
Willamette University

Want to stay in the loop about One Stone?

 
 
 
 


 
1151 W. Miller St
Boise, ID 83702
United States
 
208-451-3825
info@onestone.org

 
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One Stone is a member of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools.
 
Learn more about our accreditation status »