
Open World Learning Community (OWL, formerly Open School) has nurtured self-directed learners since 1971. Students in our small-by-design school have been celebrated and respected for their individuality and take an active role in their education. With just 450 students in Grades 6 through 12, every student is a known and valued part of our family-like community. Open World Learning Community is a member of the national network of EL Schools, which promote rigorous and engaging curriculum; active, inquiry-based pedagogy; and a school culture that demands and teaches compassion and good citizenship.
Our school is guided by the three Dimensions of Student Achievement Mastery of Skills and Knowledge (MSK), Character, and High Quality Work (HQW). We believe that all of our students are capable of creating High Quality Work and this site is designed to show it! It is intended to be our very own Models of Excellence for OWL. Feel free to explore the site and be blown away by what our kids have created!
The site features 3 “buckets” of media that students have created: Documentaries, Podcasts, and Publications. You can find the latest from each below – and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app via RSS!
Latest Documentary
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2024 River Documentaries Part 3 – Dead Zone and Pollution
Sixth graders’ mini-documentaries about pollution in the Mississippi River and the dead zone.
Latest Podcast
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2025–26 Migration Podcasts
Season two of OWL’s migration podcast: 25 student-made episodes on the Great Migration, refugees from Syria to Sudan, climate migration, and the immigrants who shaped American identity.
Latest Publication
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The Purple Press
OWL’s student newspaper since 1997: read the latest issue, browse recent volumes, and explore the full archive back to 1996.