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Sierra Expeditionary Learning School (SELS) is a newly-formed, public charter school that opened in the fall of 2010 in Truckee, CA. It currently enrolls students between the grades of Kindergarten and 5th grade, and plans to expand to include 6th, 7th, and 8th in the next 2 years.
The Curriculum - Expeditionary Learning
SELS has adopted the Expeditionary Learning (EL) curriculum, a nationally-recognized program that was based on the Outward Bound program. EL schools inspire the motivation to learn, engage teachers and students in new levels of focus and effort, and transform schools into places where students and adults become leaders of their own learning. EL provides a model that challenges students – even those starting with low skill levels – with high level tasks and active roles in the classroom.
SELS believes in hands-on learning, peer support, character building, and community and environmental projects to help students develop a lifelong love of learning and civic and environmental responsibility. All these points are emphasized daily in the classroom. Read our vision statement >>
SELS students learn in multi-grade classrooms called 'crews'. The 'crew' philosophy is fundamental in EL, where the slogan is 'We are crew, not passengers'. Our current crews are:
A public charter school
We currently operate as an independent charter school under the local school district, Truckee Tahoe Unified School District. Their continued support has helped us to establish our school, setup our facility in the portables of the former middle school building, and utilize the transportation routes and bus system.
SELS held their first public lottery in April of 2010, open to all students. There was great interest and excitement from the community. SELS aimed for a true representation of the local population and held 30% of all spots for lower-income families*. Every spot was filled, and waiting lists were developed for each grade. The wait list for Kindergarten had over 30 families.
*Based on CBEDS data
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About Us
