Key Features

Students swimming in a river
students climbing rocks at river
Students learning with laptop
student smiling holding fishing pole
student smiling in front of whiteboard
student painting

Our Essential Components:

Strong Academics
At SAEL, an ethic of excellence is expected from both students and teachers. Engaging curriculum is designed and rigorous instructional strategies are used to challenge all students. Curriculum will be Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards based along with meeting all UC/CSU requirements. We will be WASC accredited by the time the first senior class graduates. As a part of the Expeditionary Learning national network, we will engage in the annual College March and aim for 100% college acceptance.


National Network of Support
We will regularly engage with our Expeditionary Learning national network for professional development. School designer consultants from EL are on campus 20+ days a year for on-site support while teachers regularly attend off-site staff development with other educators in our network.


Adventure in Spirit and Action
Student character is developed both in school and in the field through opportunities for physical and academic adventure. Adventure activities serve to further the development of student character, physical self-efficacy, and fitness/wellness. Positive character is an expectation of all staff and students.


Students are CREW
Students play an active role in the teaching and learning process at SAEL. They are are not passengers, they are CREW. Students are expected to collaborate with their peers to further their understanding and application of learning and knowledge both in CREW class and also through the CREW spirit.


Service is a Standard
Service plays an important role in the life of a SAEL student. Students are citizen scholars and they engage with their community. Service learning is not only an opportunity to offer authentic support to a community organization or member, it is also an essential way of learning about the real world and the real work happening in their local area and beyond.


Justice is the Means
SAEL is a socially conscious, justice-orientated institution of learning. Expeditions may be centered around social justice or environmental issues. We are environmentally aware and the school supports a sustainability approach in every sense.

Photo collage of activism

The above picture is a montage from the annual College March featuring EL schools throughout the country who are also striving for 100% college acceptance.