Key Design Elements

Stillman College & IDBA Lab School

Community Partnership to Deliver a First-Class Education

The Lab School concept helps to build academic excellence by incubating new ideas for student success, developing students’ curiosity about college, and allowing young teachers to train in live classroom environments.

Impact of the Lab School

Degree Program Rotations

All students in grades 6-9 experience 4-week rotations through Stillman’s degree departments, observing labs, engaging with professors & degree-seeking students, meeting career experts, &, as appropriate, participating in college research before selecting a Program of Study as a high school student.

Dual Enrollment Courses
Every High School student beginning in grade 10 will earn up to 30 credit hours engaging in college-level course material facilitated by Stillman College faculty to expose students to potential college majors and advanced academic materials.
Technology

Middle & High school students interested in technology, including Cybersecurity & Amazon’s AWS Cloud, earn Credentials, engage with software & tech programs, & further explore their college interests. Students begin working toward degrees in high-demand careers, including participating in cybersecurity competitions, designs, & internships. Each student also gains immediate access to Amazon’s job board that allows them to submit their credentials &  be paired with the company for immediate employment after graduation.

Intervention, Tutoring, and Mentoring Supports
As an HBCU Lab School partnering with the College of Education, future educators will collaborate with IDBA teachers to provide tutoring and academic support to students during the Workshop Blocks and School Wide Intervention Blocks to ensure that every IDBA student receives additional support with academic and enrichment courses, learning tasks within projects and college level courses.

Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning gives students active roles in their learning to explore and investigate topics of interest while developing essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication. Teachers help students explore and incorporate diverse perspectives and experiences into PBL by using authentic scenarios and case studies that reflect the backgrounds and experiences of students

Advisory & House System

Advisory and House Systems provide safe spaces rooted in relationships and education equity so all students can succeed academically when given the academic and holistic support they need to thrive. The advisory system is a structure where 15-17 students are assigned to a specific advisor who provides guidance, support, and mentorship throughout their academic journey.

College and Career Exploration

We work closely with students to create personalized learning plans that are tailored to their unique needs, interests, and goals. This approach allows students to take ownership of their education and pursue their passions, leading to a more engaged and motivated learning experience. Students are encouraged to work on long-term, interdisciplinary projects that are relevant to their interests and goals. These projects often involve collaborating with industry professionals, peers, and community members to tackle real-world problems and challenges.