School Profile
This unit supports the larger mission of Open High School to create students who are self-directed, independent learners. Open is a community-based, alternative, public high school, which supports a student body of no more than 200. Students—from all over the city of Richmond—apply and go through an interview process in order to be accepted. Our criteria, however, is not just academic, so a wide range of skill levels are represented. Classes are fifty minutes each, four days per week. On Thursday, students take elective courses. While students must fulfill state graduation requirements, they are also allowed to self-select courses, which often include college, dual-enrollment, or non-traditional classes held off campus.
Because of its size, a sense of community prevails. The major organizing feature is the Family—composed of about fifteen students—where advising, support, and service learning opportunities occur. Students represent themselves at bimonthly Town Meetings where the whole school comes together to discuss issues of concern. Teachers are also on a first-name basis with students, which encourages more authentic relationships between students and faculty. We have a strong principal, whose participatory management system means that the faculty is consulted each week during staff meetings.
The student population is approximately 75% African American and 25% white. 27% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch in the 2004-2005 school year. In the two years that they have been required to pass state standardized tests, our students have performed well, and the school is fully accredited by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Over 90% of students attend college, although SAT scores are not competitive, and, true, across-the-board scholarship remains an unmet goal.
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