Our Model

The Double Helix of Learning

Our Model

The Double Helix of Learning

College and career are not parallel tracks at Rooted School Cleveland. They are braided strands. Academic preparation and industry pathway, intertwined from 6th grade forward.

Every graduate carries both. The same student takes college-prep coursework and earns credentials of value. The same student writes a college essay and completes paid work-based learning. The same student walks into senior year with a college acceptance and a job offer in hand.

Not a "choose one" school. The Double Helix is the design.

The North Star
Every Graduate Leaves with a College Acceptance and a Job Offer
Academic Strand
Rigorous Academics
Grade 6
Foundational Agility
Core literacy and numeracy that set the base for college readiness and professional agility.
Grade 8
Curricular Alignment & HQIM
Instruction anchored in high-quality instructional materials and consistent lesson design.
Grade 11
Self-Directed Learning
Students manage their own data, set goals, and drive pacing through Personalized Learning Plans.
Grade 12
Data-Driven Mastery
An evidence-to-action cycle identifies academic gaps and closes them through timely intervention.
Problem-Based Learning
The bridge · Career awareness · Gap closing
Career Strand
Career-Connected Learning
From Grade 6
Career-Connected Application
Students connect academic skills to real industry problems from their first year.
Grades 9–12
Industry-Based Credentials
Stackable, external proof of employability validated against recognized industry standards.
Grades 11–12
Internships & Work-Based Learning
Progression from career awareness to paid professional placements and apprenticeships.
The Outcome
Long-Term Economic Mobility
Curriculum backward-mapped from the wage and wealth-building outcomes that last beyond graduation.
The Strands in Practice
Academic Coursework
Career Application
Science · Forces and Motion
Students study force, motion, friction, and energy transfer through hands-on physics experiments.
Engineering · Robot Design
Students design, build, and test robots to complete a challenge course, then analyze performance with engineer mentors and iterate.
Algebra · Proportional Reasoning
Students learn ratios, proportional relationships, measurement, and percent error.
Manufacturing · Quality Inspection
Students inspect manufactured parts, compare measurements to design specs, calculate tolerances, and determine whether products meet standards.
Biology · Human Body Systems
Students study human body systems, disease processes, and scientific reasoning.
Health Sciences · Patient Case Analysis
Students analyze patient cases, identify symptoms, evaluate treatment options, and defend recommendations to healthcare professionals.