The James B. Castle School Redesign - 2014

The James B. Castle School Redesign

Matthew Lorin is the inaugural President of the XQ Institute, an organization dedicated to reform of US public high schools. Matthew Lorin also served as the Founding Director of Honolulu-based The Learning Coalition and, during his tenure, oversaw the successful redesign of Castle High School in Kaneohe, HI. Before the redesign, James B. Castle High School was on the brink of being shut down. One out of every four students did not graduate, and students reported feeling trapped in the school. Despite the accommodating climate, classes were always held indoors and the school seemed designed to be separate from the community it served. Trust between surrounding communities and the school was largely nonexistent. Opening a process of engagement, the Castle High School redesign project sought input from the surrounding community, parents, students, and teachers to identify the problems with the model of education and develop solutions. Identifying opportunities for learning in the community, the school developed ties with local businesses, community groups, nonprofits, and educational and research institutions to produce of campus and hands-on learning opportunities for students and build trust between the community and the school. Further, through the Castle Po’okela project, students were encouraged to work in the community learning skills of land stewardship. Prior to the program, 47 percent of students entering the Po’okela project were below grade level, now 90 percent of students have achieved grade level.