Preparing Students for Academic Excellence and STEM Success in College and Career

By Michael Reagan, One Stone Lab School Director

Now that admissions are open for the 2025-2026 school year, I am often asked what student-driven learning is and what it looks like at one of the world’s most innovative high schools. This article will explore the following:

1. The Growth Framework: One Stone’s competency-based learning model and our world-class staff

2. Essential Skill Development: why One Stone graduates succeed in college

3. One Stone diploma requirements: students drive their education in real-world relevant areas of interdisciplinary, project-based, and STEM learning

Competency-Based Learning Leads to Personal Growth, Confidence, and Academic Excellence

Learn more about One Stone’s Growth Framework

One Stone’s Growth Framework (aka BLOB) empowers students to set goals and be assessed in 24 competencies and abilities across four quadrants: Mindset, Knowledge, Creativity, and Skills. One Stone’s research working in innovative education and alongside teens over the past 17 years has proven that well-balanced growth in these competencies results in self-efficacy, self-advocacy, self-awareness, and self-confidence. More than memorizing information, these are the qualities that students need to do well in college and their careers. Students not only learn about the rapidly changing world we live in—they learn about themselves and how to thrive and be happy and successful learners and leaders.

One Stone high school's academic excellence equips students with the academic skills and understanding necessary for success in both college and their future careers. One Stone graduates have been accepted to and earned degrees from many of the nation’s top colleges and universities, studying everything from science, math, engineering, entrepreneurship, computer science, 3D design, business, and more.

Meet the One Stone staff

A World-Class Staff of Passionate and Caring Mentors and Experts

At One Stone, we value student-driven learning, allowing students to discover how they learn.

This is achieved through One Stone’s Growth Framework and a staff of innovative and dedicated educators who believe in the power of students.

We help students develop personal agency and accountability through scaffolded freedom and individual choice. The process is highly individualized and facilitated by One Stone’s world-class staff of passionate mentors, coaches, industry experts, and visiting college professors. Rather than teach using traditional methods, our staff work side-by-side with our students, getting to know what inspires and motivates each student.

Our staff support and challenge each student to reach their highest potential, while meeting each student where they are academically, professionally, socially, physically, and emotionally. Students are coached and encouraged to lead their learning journey, setting personalized goals and reflecting on their progress.

Equipped for College and Career Success

One Stone's holistic approach to education and growth ensures that students are not only academically prepared, but also equipped with the soft skills needed to succeed in college and in the workforce. One Stone high school's emphasis on academic excellence and a well-rounded education results in students who are curious, passionate, responsible, and prepared for anything. By engaging in interdisciplinary projects and real-world applications, students gain a deeper understanding of STEM subjects and how they intersect with other fields.

One Stone graduates credit their college success with the following essential skills they developed at One Stone:

1. They learned how to build and maintain relationships with trusted adults and became comfortable asking for help and advocating for themselves.

2. They identified their passions, strengths, and interests, which saved them thousands of dollars trying to figure out who they were while in college.

3. They were already excellent collaborators and leaders equipping them to thrive as freshmen in team projects and group work in college.

4. They developed the grit and resilience required to overcome obstacles, challenges, adversities, and difficulties that often arise in college.

5. They possessed the management and ownership skills to prioritize their work—they know how to plan and use their time effectively in college.

6. They knew how to become involved leaders on their college campuses, engaging deeply in their academic programs, communities, and relevant professional opportunities.

7. They graduated with a comprehensive portfolio and a robust resume of professional experiences, technical skills, internships, real-world partnerships and projects, and valuable social capital and relationships.

8. They have the confidence to try new things, explore new areas of interest, take risks, and embrace the possibility of failure.

Finding Relevance, Passion, and Purpose: One Stone High School Diploma Requirements

Download the 2025 One Stone School Profile

One Stone’s two-to-four-year high school program is rooted in competency-based learning and design thinking, a creative problem-solving process developed at Stanford University’s d.school. Although the learning method is innovative and interdisciplinary, a One Stone diploma represents a well-balanced transcript in the following traditional academic fields:

• English Language Arts

• Reading

• Applied Mathematics

• Science

• Social Science

• Computer Science, Technology, & Engineering

• Entrepreneurship

• Business & Marketing

Applying Math and Science to Real-World Problems

The components of One Stone’s Growth Framework include competencies such as Scientific Inquiry and Applied Mathematics. Students engage in place-based and project-based learning projects that require them to apply mathematical strategies, scientific principles, engineering and design mindsets, and essential technical skills to tackle complex issues, simulating the challenges they will face in STEM careers. These are not taught in isolation or in theoretical contexts, but instead, learning at One Stone is integrated into real-world problem-solving partnerships and situations.

Each term, every student engages in reading, English, research, human-centered design, and math, while science and social science are both recommended at least once or twice per year. Computer science, entrepreneurship, and marketing are each required once during a student’s time at One Stone.

In the 2024-2025 school year alone, students could design their own STEM learning opportunities or choose from the following variety of STEM-related experiences and workshops including:

• 3D & Virtual Design

• 3D Printing

• Advanced Trig & Wave Functions

• Agriculture & Food Science

• App Design

• Architecture & Design

• Audio Recording & Engineering

• Biomimicry

• Blacksmithing

• Boat Design & Engineering

• Botany

• Branding & Graphic Design

• Bridge Design & Engineering

• Chemistry

• Climate Science

• Coding & Robotics

• Electrical Engineering

• Exponentials & Logarithms

• Fluid Thermal Systems

• Game Design

• Generative AI

• Geography

• Geology

• Hydrology

• Linear Functions

• Math Fundamentals

• Musical Instrument Design & Construction

• Mycology

• Nuclear Energy

• Psychology & Mental Health

• Quadratics & Polynomials

• Qualitative Research Methods

• Statistics & Data Analysis

• Transportation Crash Data & Statistics

• Video Game Design & Coding

• Videography

• Welding

• Woodworking & Furniture Construction

• Woodworking & Product Design

Developing Research, Critical Thinking, and Information Literacy Skills

In today's information-rich world, the ability to discern credible information from misinformation is crucial. One Stone addresses this through its focus on Information Literacy, helping students to learn how to critically evaluate the origin and value of sources and recognize bias. Students develop their own research questions, conduct dozens of research interviews and experiments, and regularly prototype and test their solutions with partners and external audiences. This skill is particularly valuable in STEM and design thinking, where human-centered, data-driven decision-making is critical.

Conclusion

One Stone's Growth Framework provides a robust opportunity for high school students to develop skills and confidence, especially those who are passionate about STEM. By focusing on personalized learning, real-world applications, and critical information literacy, the One Stone high school prepares students to excel in college and beyond, inspiring the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers who are equipped to make the world a better place.

Schedule a tour of the One Stone high school

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Student Stories of Academic Excellence at One Stone

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This article was initially generated by One Stone’s Growth Coach, a piece of proprietary AI technology that helps One Stone staff implement the Growth Framework.

A Season Of Innovation, Growth, And Gratitude At One Stone

Written by Michael Reagan, One Stone Lab School Director
November 2024

We hope everyone has the opportunity to relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with family and friends during the Thanksgiving Break. Thank you to everyone who has made the fall of 2024 so great in so many ways. On the heels of Gratitude Week, I’d like to share a note of gratitude, celebrating the accomplishments, innovations, and practices that make One Stone so special.

I recently attended an education conference in Tacoma, Washington held by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). The fall Heads of School conference is an opportunity to gather and build relationships with colleagues and participate in professional development. It was a great chance to meet other school leaders and learn best practices from other excellent independent schools.

Every time I have the opportunity to meet people in education, I am reminded just how fortunate I am to be at One Stone. I am reminded how incredible our staff is and how motivated and passionate our students are. I am reminded how flexible, adaptable, and trusting our students, families, and staff are. And most of all, I am grateful for how exceptionally innovative One Stone is.

What makes One Stone so innovative and different?

In listening to education experts and in talking with other attendees at conferences like this one, here are the top three areas of excellence that we can confidently say make One Stone the most innovative school in the country:

1. Belief in the power of students – One Stone’s approach to purpose-driven learning starts with a fundamental and unwavering belief in the power of students. Our purpose statement, “We believe in the power of students” inspires radical individualization and personalization that meets every student where they are. Purpose-driven learning at One Stone explores, values, celebrates, empowers, and challenges each student—focusing on their strengths and future goals. Our coaches, staff, and student leaders foster a culture of listening, empathy, belief, trust, and freedom that is necessary in pursuit of building confidence, autonomy, and purpose. Our students learn to believe in themselves by discovering who they are, what they are passionate about, how they learn best, how to advocate for themselves and others, and how to build meaningful relationships with mentors and adults to help support their journey at One Stone and beyond.

2. Real-world problem solving – Through Design Lab, Project Good, Two Birds, the One Stone Board of Directors, and experiential learning that takes place in Experiences and Immersions, One Stone students are driving their own learning and thriving in relevant, high-stakes environments and real-world projects and topics that matter to them and to their community. Everything we do, from our dynamic and ever-changing schedule to the hands-on nature of our student-driven learning experiences, is designed to make students better leaders, problem solvers, critical thinkers, communicators, and collaborators so they can go into the world and make it a better place.

3. Growth and competency-based learning – One Stone’s Growth Framework is rooted in our history of student-driven, real-world problem solving and purpose-driven learning. The Growth Transcript measures and tracks 24 Bold Learning Objectives on One Stone’s BLOB that are necessary for success in high school, college, and beyond. Students use the BLOB and their Growth Transcripts to identify areas of strength and set personalized learning goals for growth and improvement. Our students are uniquely able to reflect on and articulate why they did what they did, how they grew, and what they can improve next time. They are confident and able to use their voice to express themselves and advocate for others. The Growth Framework is One Stone intellectual property and is currently being tested at partner schools across the country. 

Reflecting on the past two months of purpose, problem solving, and growth

These three areas of innovation have been showcased beautifully over the past two months at One Stone. This fall was student-driven, rapidly changing, dynamic, challenging, meaningful, and fun. It has been filled with inspiring events and collaborations that are made possible by the amazing kindness, leadership, and vulnerability of our staff, students, and supporters.

We wrapped up Experiences, Peeps on the Street, Immersions, and Gratitude Week, while also supporting the Class of 2025 in their college and career goals. We welcomed visits from Education Reimagined, Tucson Country Day School, and we sent a group of students to Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) to engage in a design thinking workshop, fostering meaningful exchanges on innovative education. On October 26th, Emily Watkins and One Stone proudly presented Idaho’s first-ever Model Arab League, providing students a platform to engage with high school and college students on global issues facing Arab nations. She also facilitated a Braver Angels workshop on political empathy and effective listening with our students and staff, and also hosted a small screening of Undivide US, a powerful documentary challenging the notion that civil discourse is impossible amid disagreement. 

Experiences
This fall’s experiences were some of the most innovative, place-based, relevant, and rigorous options ever at One Stone. Coached by two new part-time coaches and by our incredible full-time coaches, these six weeks were designed to engage students through experiential learning that provides space for students to choose, lead, and design their own learning while working within a multidisciplinary theme or set of topics. Fall 2024 experiences included an excellent example of student-driven learning in an experience called AI in Action: Solving Real-World Problems with Generative Technology, where students researched topics of their choice ranging from how A.I. is used in brake detection software in the automotive industry to how statistical methods, data analysis, and computational models are currently being used to understand trauma, human behavior, cognition, and mental health. Other experiences included Take A Seat, In the Garden, which was a science and furniture making experience in partnership with the Idaho Botanical Garden; Everything is Chemistry was a rigorous and fast-paced exploration of college-level chemistry and biochemistry; Games: Design, Math & Society allowed students to research and design their own games; Boise City Limits explored the music history of Boise and Austin, TX in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute and Akins School in Austin, Texas; and Designing Tomorrow: Communicating Climate Change where students learned the science behind climate change and its impacts, and researched practical solutions through interviews and readings. In partnership with the City of Boise, this experience culminated in a unique opportunity to design a climate change education exhibit for young learners at the WaterShed.

October Design Week & Peeps on the Street
During the week of October 28, Design Week served as a transition week between Experiences and Immersions, while XLab, DLab, and YLab were provided with more time to make progress on their projects and prepare for Peeps on the Street on Wednesday, October 30. This fall’s Peeps on the Street was a huge success. We had over 50 members of our extended community join us in the building to provide feedback to our students. A visiting group of 20 educators from a Washington DC-based organization called Education Reimagined participated in our morning session. In the afternoon, we hosted an additional 30 community partners, parents, and community members. Student designers and teams had an opportunity to practice reflection and communication skills, while articulating the design thinking work they’ve done so far, and asking for feedback. Most students had the chance to practice their presentations four or more times, and everyone gained valuable empathy insights, connections to our community, or ideas for next steps.

Immersions
Immersions provided students with a two-week learning opportunity to immerse themselves fully into multi-disciplinary topics of interest. With large blocks of time throughout the week, Immersions are designed to be long enough to experience flow state and make progress rapidly; to get out of the building to explore and learn; and to inspire students to practice managing their time by working throughout longer periods of time. Fall 2024 Immersions included Computer Gaming; Quilted Narratives: Exploring History One Stitch at a Time; Literary Landscapes (Currents of Curiosity); Business Blast-Off; BYOI (Build Your Own Instrument); One Event Planning & Video Production; and An Experiment of Your Own.

Future U: College Admissions
One Stone’s college admissions program, led by Lisa Fisher, author of Admissions by Design, and managed by Camille Rodes, was supported by One Stone’s former executive director, Teresa Poppen, and every One Stone staff member. Through group meetings and hundreds of hours of one-on-one consultation, the Class of 2025 successfully met their November college application deadlines. To date, we successfully submitted 114 college applications by writing 100+ letters of recommendation, essays, and supplementals.

Future U: Career Exploration
This fall, One Stone launched a new career exploration experience where students looking to go straight into the workforce after high school had the opportunity to develop resume and cover letter writing skills, while developing a short term plan after graduation.

Gratitude Week
Gratitude Week is a beloved One Stone tradition held the week before Thanksgiving. It is an opportunity to practice gratitude for the things and people in our lives with intention, while practicing kindness and service. This year’s theme was focused on Pebbling, which at its core, stems from the desire to share something that you think your loved one would enjoy. Great penguin graphics, a trip to the zoo, an inspiring panel, and raking leaves through Rake Up Boise were just a few of the highlights. Gratitude Week culminated in the Gratitude Feast—a Thanksgiving-style meal shared by students and staff, where each person had the opportunity to share what we are all thankful and appreciative for in our lives. One Stone is very thankful for each family’s food contributions and to our volunteers who helped prepare the meal.

Big thanks and heartfelt gratitude

I wish every parent, community partner, sponsor, and potential donor could have joined us for our Gratitude Feast. It was truly inspiring to hear each student talk about their appreciation for each other, their mentors, their coaches, their families and friends, and for this wonderful opportunity at One Stone to learn and grow with passion, purpose, and empathy.

Listening to each of them gave me confidence in knowing that our future is in good hands.

Thank you for being on this journey with us,

Michael Reagan,

One Stone Lab School Director