All 12th grade students in Roaring Fork Schools complete a capstone project prior to graduating. The projects take on a wide variety of forms and allow students to pursue their passions by exploring a topic of personal interest in depth. Students select a topic that interests them, conduct research on the subject, document their work, create a final product demonstrating their learning, and present their learning at the end.
The capstone program encourages the students to transition from traditional learning in the classroom to a more interdisciplinary approach, applying their skills to real-world tasks and preparing to thrive beyond high school. Students planning to attend a college or university will have to complete major projects as a part of the university experience. Students planning to enter the workforce directly after high school will require skills such as communication, collaboration, problem solving, and time management. Equally importantly, capstones provide an avenue for academic and character growth, and allow students the time, space, and resources to complete a deep learning exploration. They will have the opportunity to explore their personal interests and passions, and to enjoy the intrinsic satisfaction of learning.