Growing Into ECHS

The program emphasizes design thinking, collaborative learning and problem-based pedagogy while promoting a sense of community and providing a strong framework for social-emotional learning through a thorough core curriculum, a required graduation project, a selected pathway, and a wide array of electives that reflect ECHS’s commitment to education for sustainability. View the 2022–2023 course offerings HERE.

ECHS students have the opportunity to participate in an “Embedded Honors” model starting in 10th grade in which teachers provide highly differentiated and challenging assignments for students who select this option. In 11th and 12th grades, students have the option to take separate advanced coursework – including AP classes and distinct “Honors” courses.

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible for Pittsburgh Promise:

• Must attend PPS or one of its charters since at least the beginning of 9th grade

• Must be a resident of the City of Pittsburgh continuously since at least the beginning 9th grade

• Must graduate with a minimum GPA of 2.50 and an attendance record of 90% or above

Yes, graduation requirements are standard in the state of Pennsylvania. View the graduation requirements HERE.

The ECS Graduation Project is a requirement for graduation. This culminating experience will give students an opportunity to bring their learning to life. With support from their advisor, students will create/design a project which will allow them to authentically engage with their chosen ECS Pathway, connect to the pillars of sustainability, and showcase how they have grown into eco-literate citizens.

Students will need to apply the following competencies in order to be successful:

• Critical and Creative Questioning

• Research and Investigation

• Organization and Managing Timelines

• Incorporate Feedback

• Communicate for Various Audiences

Essential Project Components:

• Project proposal and approval

• Documentation and deliverables to show the learning process

• Community Engagement

• Final Presentation and Reflection

The ECHS Sustainable Pathways will play a significant role in students’ ECS academic careers. The intent of these pathways is not for students to declare their career path, but rather offer students an opportunity to personalize and explore ideas of sustainability through topics they feel most connected with. These interdisciplinary pathways will pave the way for students, giving their classes, work, and experiences a concentrated lens to examine the world. No matter the pathway, students will approach their experiences with a lens of sustainability, including big ideas around global citizenship, equity and justice, systems thinking, and environmental engineering/human-centered design.

ECHS's Quest Labs are mini-expeditions where students learn by doing and actively engage in a variety of real-world experiences that explore new disciplines and industries outside of their daily school context. They will become immersed in unfamiliar learning environments, attempt new activities, and pursue longstanding passions in ways that will help them visualize their futures as productive and solution-finding eco-literate citizens. While students' content classes

throughout the year will develop students' depth in content knowledge and skills around topics of intersectional environmentalism and sustainability through project-based learning, Quests will develop students' breadth through experiences and partnerships that promote life-wide learning.

ECHS operates on an eight-period hybrid schedule that includes a mixture of traditional 45-minute class periods with longer 90-minute blocks.

Yes, all courses that are open to 9th-grade students are available HERE.

College and Career Readiness programming is embedded in all coursework at ECHS and is emphasized during CREW and Studio. Students must complete a Career and Education Work Standards Portfolio in order to graduate.

Yes! View ECHS’s world language course offerings HERE.

Standards-Based Grading is a more equitable and accurate system of education that focuses on student learning rather than the delivery of instruction. In SBG, students receive grades based on their ability to demonstrate understanding of specific academic concepts called learning targets, which are derived from and aligned to national, state, and/or local standards.

Studies show that standards-based teaching practices correlate to higher academic achievement (Craig, 2011; Schoen, Cebulla, Finn, & Fi, 2003). Additionally, SBG is part of a larger approach to assessment that seeks to shift accountability for learning from teachers to students in order to empower and motivate them to become leaders of their own learning. At ECS, we believe that this is a necessary step towards growing citizens.

ECS’s athletics program is growing with the addition of its Athletic Department. ECHS is enrolled in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Athletic Association (SWPAA) as well as the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL). ECHS offers a variety of athletic programs, intermural sports, and clubs. Students can participate in sports at their home school if their desired sport is not offered at ECS. Programs are offered in the Fall, Winter, and Spring and may include Basketball, Open Gym, Cross Country, and more.

• 7:45 a.m. - Earliest students are permitted to enter the building.

• 7:49 a.m. - One minute "warning" bell

• 8 a.m. - School start time

• 3:22 p.m. - Dismissal

Construction is slated to begin in early 2023 with a completion date of early 2024 pending the availability of resources such as building materials.

Families have several opportunities to learn more about ECHS at both their own pace and through in-person events.

• Attend the High School Showcase.

• Review the High School Webpage.

• Watch the 9–12 Overview video.

• Reach out to a high school administrator.