Collaborative Lab School

ALL students can thrive at the Collaborative Lab School! There is no one "type" that will or won't find success. Whether you love school or hate it, feel you excel at school or struggle, desire more voice and choice in your education, or are nervous by that idea—the CLS is a space for YOU!

Students will be partners and co-designers with their educators, called Engagement Guides. Together, students and their Engagement Guides will plan learning experiences, set a schedule that meets graduation requirements, reflect on academic and personal growth, and explore future goals.

Students will work with their Engagement Guide mentor to co-create their school schedules according to their needs and in order to meet all graduation requirements.

A typical school week might include:

• Meeting one-on-one with your Engagement Guide mentor to plan, reflect, or check-in
• Collaborating with other CLS students, Engagement Guides on projects, case studies, or research with our Community Partners (local and global businesses, organizations, and corporations)
• Visiting community partner locations (locally or globally) for internship or service learning opportunities
• Engaging in community building circles and activities to co-create a safe and inclusive learning community
• Participating in Mini Courses (4-6 week, interdisciplinary courses, co-designed by students and Engagement Guides to meet certain academic standards or to cover topics of interest) at the CLS
• Attending courses of interest at Hopkins High School (electives, AP, CIS, etc.)
• Attending PSEO courses through Hopkins High School
• Participating in extracurricular activities at the High School or in the community
• Meeting with community, business, and education leaders
• Facilitating learning opportunities for other educators and students who visit the CLS

See an example schedule and more information when you click on the button.

Sample Schedule

Yes! CLS students remain Hopkins High School (HHS) students and are eligible to participate in HHS activities. It is our goal to allow for maximum flexibility for our students’ schedules. Each student will work with their Engagement Guide mentor and Hopkins staff to set their schedules and discuss particular needs when it comes to extracurricular activities.

The CLS is a pathway at Hopkins High School, not a separate school. Students will still receive a Hopkins High School diploma and transcript. Engagement Guides will work with students and counselors to ensure students have all credits needed for graduation. Students will also receive individualized support in attaining their hopes and goals for their post-secondary plans.

The real-world experience students will attain at the CLS through internships, service learning, and co-design will allow them to develop critical 21st century skills needed for success in today’s workforce. The connections CLS students will make to career mentors and business and community leaders will expose them to a multitude of post-secondary pathways and help inform their future goals. Ultimately, attending the CLS will help students to stand out in any application process they choose after high school.

No, it is a brand new way of doing school!

While ALCs were created specifically to provide viable educational opportunities for students who were struggling in the traditional system and at risk of failure, the CLS is designed for ALL students to partner with educators in reinventing education.

First step: enroll in Hopkins Public Schools

All CLS students must enroll in Hopkins Public Schools first. If you are already enrolled in Hopkins, you can email CLS staff who will work with your student and counselor on enrollment. If you live outside of the Hopkins School District, please start by open enrolling in Hopkins before filling out the CLS registration form. Questions about enrolling in Hopkins? Contact our enrollment team: Enrollment@HopkinsSchools.org or 952-988-4110.