Diploma Plus Schools
Diploma Plus is an adaptable model, designed to work in a variety of educational settings. The DP model serves as the blueprint for stand-alone small schools and smaller alternative high school programs that serve students for two years.
Diploma Plus Geographic Networks
As of 2006-07, Diploma Plus has 18 schools. Diploma Plus sites are grouped into three geographic networks. Click here for site profiles.
New England Network
Ten DP sites, including both small schools and DP affiliated programs, operate in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
New York Network
Five DP small schools exist in New York City (two in the Bronx, and one each in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Coney Island).
California Network
New DP small schools opened in the fall of 2007: Einstein Education Center and Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology. One more additional DP school, Helen Bernstein, will open in Los Angeles in September of 2008.
Small Schools
DP small schools have designed their entire educational program around the DP model. They implement all three phases of the program model—the Foundation Phase, the Presentation Phase and the Plus Phase—and all students at the school participate in Diploma Plus. DP sites in this category include district-run small high schools, district-run alternative schools, and charter schools.
DP Affiliated Programs
These programs are operated either by the school district, community college, or community-based organizations. Students apply or are referred to these programs from their “home” high schools (or they re-enroll) for the last year or two of high school. Although their entire educational program is provided at their DP site, their home high school remains the official school of record. Upon successful completion, students receive high school diplomas by agreement with the host school district.
Across such programs, implementation strategies vary. Depending on a particular site’s design, resources, and student population, both the Presentation Phase and the Plus Phase may be offered, or just the Plus Phase alone as an alternative senior year experience. Several of these sites are located on the campuses of community colleges, and emphasize the transition to post-secondary education.
