Big Picture and College

Big Picture Learning believes that all students should be afforded the opportunity to attend an institution of higher education if they so chose. By developing challenging individual learning plans, organizing student visits to colleges, educating families about the college application and financial aid processes, and building relationships with local colleges, Big Picture schools are cultivating our students’ readiness for the challenges of post-high school study.

Many people wonder what colleges and universities will think of Proficiency-based Graduation Requirements (PBGRs), but the word has spread and The New England Secondary School Consortium just recently announced that 55 New England Colleges and Universities have endorsed using proficiency-based graduation approaches as they are clearly seeing how it prepares students for real-world learning and college readiness.

From the article:  “Proficiency-based graduation decisions represent an important shift for many public schools, and our parents, families, and communities want assurance that their schools are embracing educational approaches accepted by colleges. New England’s collegiate leaders recognize that producing more educated and skilled high school graduates will only benefit their institutions, and that preparing young adults to succeed in higher education and earn a degree is a goal shared by K–12 educators, college professors, and prospective employers alike.” Read the full article here.


See the full interview with South Burlington High School guidance counselor Tim Wile talking about Big Picture and college: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlyszE1yhyM&feature=youtu.be

Big Picture Schools expose students to the variety of professional, academic, and social paths available to be pursued after high school; and plan students’ academic course in order to maximize students’ post-high school opportunities.

Colleges recognize and support Big Picture applicants! See below for letters of support from the following colleges:

University of Vermont (UVM)

Champlain College

Castleton College

Also check out the 2010 Colleges where BP graduates can be found. (nationwide)

Click here to find more information about college preparation and support from bigpicture.org