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Draft:Open World Learning Community

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  • Comment: Too much promotional language. Notability has been established, but the article needs further work before publishing to the mainspace. Minnastronomer (talk) 10:01, 2 May 2026 (UTC)


Open World Learning Community, commonly shortened to OWL, is a public high school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. The school, originally named St. Paul Open School, was founded in 1971 as an un-graded, student-centered school with experiential learning, service-learning, and multi-age classroom aspects. It was the first public school choice program in St. Paul.

After facing budget cuts and declining enrollment during the 1980s, the school evolved, eventually adopting an expeditionary learning model while maintaining its foundational commitment to student-led inquiry and community connection.

At the heart of the daily experience is "Crew," a multi-grade advisory group that fosters a supportive social environment. The curriculum focuses on active "learning expeditions" that encourage students to investigate real-world issues. The school uses a hybrid approach to graduation, combining traditional academic requirements with community service and introspective reflection on the learning experience.

OWL currently serves students from 6th to 12th grade and is a part of the national network of expeditionary learning schools. The school moved to its current location on St. Paul's West Side in 2014, and shares its building and facilities with Humboldt Senior High School.

History

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St. Paul Open School was founded in 1971 by a group of parents, teachers and other community members who wanted a school, open to all students in St. Paul, where children could follow their own interests and work at their own pace. The school was a K-12 ungraded, loosely structured environment that encouraged learning by doing and learning from the community. About 800 students applied for the 500 available spots. Applicants were selected based on age, sex, race and income in order to maintain a representation of the city's demographics, with students chosen from all eight high-school areas of the city. Dr. Wayne Jennings was the school's first principal. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7][8] [9] [10]

Startup funding came in grants from Title III of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, The Northwest Area Foundation (formerly known as the "Louis W. and Maud Hill Family Foundation"), and other donations. [11]

The school's first location was in the Krank Manufacturing Company building at 1885 University Ave. in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood. The building, constructed in 1926, had been a UNISYS warehouse immediately before the district rented it for use as a school. [12]

In 1975 and 1976, Open School was accredited as a K-12 alternative school by the North Central Association, and received funding from the United States Office of Education to serve as a Developer Demonstration unit of the National Diffusion Network of innovative education programs. [13] [14] [15] [16]

In 1976, Open School moved into the newly vacated Mechanic Arts High School building near the Minnesota State Capitol. [17]

In 1978, the State of Minnesota bought the Mechanic Arts building from the school district. The district leased the building back from the state for two years and then, in 1980, Open School was moved to the old Linwood Park Elementary School building at 1023 Osceola, in St. Paul's Summit Hill neighborhood. [18] [19]

Financial constraints and conservative trends during the 1980s led to a possibility of closure. And there was a drop in enrollment from 500 K-12 students and a large waiting list in 1971 to about 330 and no waiting list in 1988. These conditions contributed to an identity crisis for the school. In 1988, a consultant hired by the district concluded it was a difficult place to be because of the confusion over what it was trying to do and how. [20] [21] [22]

During the 1990's, the school recovered and student population grew again. By 1994, Open School needed more space. After petitioning the district, the school was moved to the old Jefferson School building, at 90 S. Western Ave. in the West Seventh neighborhood. [23]

After failing to hit the targets of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2009, Open School underwent major changes. It transitioned to an expeditionary learning model, while still keeping it's core principles of student-centered learning, service-learning and multi-age classes. School and community members voted to change the name to Open World Learning Community. [24]

In 2012, during a major reorganization of Saint Paul Public Schools, OWL was directed to drop its K-5 grades and move to a shared space with Creative Arts High School at 65 E. Kellogg Boulevard in Downtown Saint Paul. [25] [26]

In 2014, after enrollment grew to about 300 students, from 180 in 2012, the school moved into its current location, at 640 Humboldt Ave. in St. Paul's West Side neighborhood. [27]

Graduation Requirements

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OWL uses a hybrid approach to graduation. As in most public schools, graduates must pass a certain number of math, science, history and English courses. In addition, OWL requires that students develop a "Graduation Portfolio." The Graduation Portfolio consists of at least seven letters of reflection, at least three letters of recommendation, samples of student work (i.e. art, history day projects, etc), awards and certificates, and a post-high school plan.

Students must also complete at least 150 hours of service to the school and 150 hours of service to the community.

Finally, students must complete a Senior Project. This should be on a topic of "great interest" to the student, "bringing together the skills and knowledge acquired to produce a meaningful product for an authentic audience." [28]

The school's approach to graduation inspired the graduation process at High School for Recording Arts. [29]

Curriculum

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OWL is a member of the national expeditionary learning network, which promotes active, inquiry-based, education. A fundamental part of OWL is "Crew." Crew is an advisory group that meets daily. Each Crew is a group of students from 6th to 12th grade. The goal is to set a positive and fun tone for student achievement through community-building activities and to provide students with a support system. [30]

The OWL curriculum is designed around "learning expeditions" that allow students to investigate issues in the school, community and world. [31]

OWL offers Advanced Placement classes and PSEO classes. Spanish is the only offered language course, but students can take other languages through the Flipside program. OWL has a variety of extracurricular classes such as Journalism, Choir and Digital Photography. [32]

Student Life

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OWL hosts three sports at the school: Archery, Ultimate Frisbee and Fraquetball.

OWL's archery team is the only inner-city Archery team in Minnesota and Saint Paul's only school-sponsored Archery team. [33] The Archery team has individual state champions in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2024, as well as First Place High School State Champions in 2023. [34] Fraquetball is a sport created at St. Paul Open (now OWL) in 2003 and has been run by students since. It has been described as "ping pong meets floor hockey." [35]

Students at OWL are eligible to play most other sports at Humboldt High School. For MSHSL sports that Humboldt doesn't have, students can go to Central High School for cross-country, gymnastics, Nordic skiing and alpine skiing. [35]

OWL has a variety of clubs and student organizations, including but not limited to: FIRST Robotics, Feminism club, Black Student Union, Student Library Advisory Council, Environmental Club and GSA. [32]

Since 1990, students at OWL have had the opportunity to participate in the annual Outward Bound Service Adventure. Groups travel to Outward Bound base camps to do service activities. [36]

Students

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As of December 2025, Open World Learning had 491 students enrolled, with a student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1. There are 46% female students and 54% male students. The school enrolls 33% economically disadvantaged students. 35% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 67% scored at or above that level for reading. Owl has 42.2% minority enrollment. Specifically, the student population's ethnicity is: 57.8% White, 12.6% Hispanic/Latino, 13.4% Multiracial, 7.9% Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander, 6.9% Black, 1.2% American Indian or Alaska Native. [37]

References

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  1. ^ Delmont, Joe (December 4, 1970). "'Open School' Plan To Be Sought For St. Paul Students". St. Paul Dispatch.
  2. ^ Baker, Ann (January 28, 1971). "There Are Many Ways to Learn, Say Parents in 'Alternatives' Who Want an Open School Here". St. Paul Dispatch.
  3. ^ Roedler, Jackie G. (February 2, 1971). "'Open Schools' Praised". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  4. ^ Roedler, Jackie (March 17, 1971). "Open School Idea Gains More Support". St. Paul Dispatch.
  5. ^ "Jennings Open School Principal". St. Paul Pioneer Press. July 21, 1971.
  6. ^ Roedler, Jackie G. (August 26, 1971). "800 Applicants Attest 'Open School' Popularity". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  7. ^ Jennings, Wayne (December 25, 2018). "The founding of St. Paul Open School". Center for School Change. Archived from the original on May 12, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  8. ^ Roedler, Jackie G. (April 29, 1971). "'Open' School Plan Has Strings". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  9. ^ Joiner, Lee M. (August 1972). St. Paul Open School: The St. Paul Public Schools Independent School District Number 625. Evaluation Report, August 1972. Final Report (Report). Teaching and Learning Research Corp., New York, NY. Archived from the original on December 26, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  10. ^ Joiner, Lee M.; Ewing, Norma (1973). The St. Paul Open School, Independent School District No. 625, 1972-1973. Final Report (Report). Teaching and Learning Research Corp., New York, NY. Archived from the original on January 1, 2026. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  11. ^ Roedler, Jackie G. (July 17, 1971). "Board to Aid Open School". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  12. ^ Roedler, Jackie G. (September 2, 1971). "Volunteers Ready City's New Open School". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  13. ^ Ahern, Don (March 19, 1975). "St. Paul Open School accreditation proposed". St. Paul Dispatch.
  14. ^ "St. Paul school again to be national model". St. Paul Dispatch. July 29, 1975.
  15. ^ Educational Programs That Work. A Resource of Educational Innovations Developed by Local School Districts and Approved by an Evaluation Panel in the Education Division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (Report). Far West Lab. for Educational Research and Development, San Francisco, CA. September 1975. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  16. ^ Nathan, Joe (1983). Free to Teach: Achieving Equity and Excellence in Schools. Pilgrim Press. ISBN 9780829806571.
  17. ^ Ahern, Don (May 19, 1976). "Open School will be moved". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  18. ^ Millet, Larry (March 8, 1978). "School Board agrees to sell Mechanic Arts". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  19. ^ Johnson, Denise (June 6, 1979). "Mays program to be relocated". St. Paul Dispatch.
  20. ^ Fletcher, Elaine (January 11, 1983). "Innovative Education in Danger". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  21. ^ Brataas, Anne (October 11, 1988). "District Discusses Open School Focus". St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch.
  22. ^ Brataas, Anne (November 13, 1988). "St. Paul Open School Survives Identity Crisis: Leader in Alternative School Movement". St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch.
  23. ^ Burson, Pat; Monsour, Theresa (September 5, 1995). "St. Paul School Bells Ring in Changes". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  24. ^ Belden, Doug (November 8, 2009). "St. Paul Public Schools Willing to Change (just not too much)". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  25. ^ Weber, Tom (January 11, 2011). "St. Paul schools plan emphasizes neighborhood schools". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  26. ^ Belden, Doug (March 2, 2011). "St. Paul schools - Changes bring in revenue, cut costs". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  27. ^ Koumpilova, Mila (September 20, 2013). "Burgeoning Open World Learning program ready for more space". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  28. ^ "Overview - Open World Learning Community". open.spps.org. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  29. ^ Seidel, Sam (2022). Hip-Hop Genius 2.0: Remixing High School Education. Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Incorporated. ISBN 9781475864304.
  30. ^ "Culture and Character". Open World Learning Community - EL Portfolio. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  31. ^ "OUR PROGRAM - Open World Learning Community". open.spps.org. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  32. ^ a b "ACTIVITIES - Open World Learning Community". open.spps.org. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  33. ^ "OWL Archery Team". sites.google.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  34. ^ "MN NASP Bulls-Eye State Tournament 2023". nasptournaments.org. Archived from the original on June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  35. ^ a b "OWL Athlete Information - Humboldt High School". sppshumboldthighschool.rschoolteams.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  36. ^ "Outward Bound - Open World Learning Community". open.spps.org. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  37. ^ "Open World Learning Secondary". U.S News. Archived from the original on December 28, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
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