Semester School Programs Prepare High School Students for Life

It’s no surprise that semester school programs have increased in popularity among high school students over the years. Similar to semester-abroad programs, semester school programs give high school students the opportunity to leave their home school for half of the academic year to study in a diverse, small, academic setting. As many semester school programs developed out of independent schools, they also offer students the quality-learning environment of an independent school setting, with specialized, interdisciplinary courses, experiential education, and rigorous traditional instruction. Semester school programs are also unique in that their curriculum is often defined by the school’s location, such as having an ecological focus if they are situated in the mountains or an urban focus if they are situated in a metropolis.

High school student Ben Schwartz experienced the rewards of attending a semester school through the High Mountain Institute’s Rocky Mountain Semester (RMS), a program that offers 11th grade students the opportunity to focus on rigorous academics and community and leadership skills through participation in a small community on campus in Leadville, Colorado. Not for the faint-of-heart, RMS students live in a city that towers 10,152 feet above sea level and embark on three wilderness expeditions through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Read how taking risks and taking on responsibility showed Ben his true potential.

Leadville, CO.-- I first heard about "semester programs” from speakers who came to our school from places like the High Mountain Institute (HMI) in Colorado, and the St. Stephens School in Rome. They sounded interesting, but I did not think they were for me. Like many students, I did not want to leave my school, friends and family and go somewhere that was unfamiliar for four months. Then, in the winter of 10th grade, after sitting through one more day of classes, I became more interested in attending the High Mountain Institute in Colorado because it seemed like it would be a great way to experience a completely new environment and build leadership skills.

I applied in March of 2009 and at first I was put on the waiting list for HMI’s fall 2009 semester. The High Mountain Institute offers two options for semester programs: There is the fall option, which includes three, two-week expeditions, and the winter option which includes two, two-week expeditions on back country skis. I applied to the fall semester because I did not want to be away in the spring, but for those who are interested in exploring Colorado in the winter and learning how to backcountry ski, the winter semester is an equally amazing experience.