While science fairs may be a familiar sight at many schools, The Charter School of Wilmington’s Junior Research Project makes student research central to their high school experience. The whole school gets involved, providing a rigorous research course to students as sophomores, mentoring them throughout their junior year, and teaching additional workshops to help students refine their presentations. Local community members, including science and research professionals, come together to assess and celebrate students’ work. For students, the project is an opportunity to take control of their learning. As one student notes in the video, “the big takeaway from this project is … how I saw myself take the lead in something that I’m interested in…Once you realize that you have control, you can literally research anything, it was really worth it.”
Read the accompanying video Reflection Guide to help prompt further ideas for your school or district context.
Read a transcript of The Charter School of Wilmington.
Read The Charter School of Wilmington’s 2019 National Blue Ribbon School application.
| Student Demographics 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Number of students 9-12 | 972 |
| Students eligible for subsidized meals | 8% |
| Students receiving special ed services | 1% |
| African American students | 8% |
| White students | 52% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native students | 1% |
| Asian students | 32% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 2% |
| Student mobility rate | <1% |
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