New West High School

New West High School is Johnson County School District 1’s alternative high school. Through the dedication of our staff, the hard work of our students, and the support of our community, we have become an integral part of Northeast Wyoming’s educational community. From the beginning our two goals have been that our students will  1) achieve graduation through a meaningful and relevant curriculum, and 2) express increased satisfaction with their high school experience. Our success is evident in our annual graduation rates (90.5% in 2022!), as well as through our graduate exit surveys. 100% of our graduates expressed that they were happy with their choice to transfer to New West and would recommend it as an option for other students.

New West High School’s mission is to provide a positive educational experience that emphasizes the social, emotional, and academic growth of each student and compels students to acquire knowledge and skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Nationwide, alternative high schools generally serve students who are at-risk of educational failure, or dropping out. In Wyoming, alternative schools serve students whose educational needs are not being met by their district’s traditional high school program. At New West High School, we know there are many reasons students and families may seek an alternative high school setting, and through our application and interview process, we seek to understand individual situations and whether our school might be the right fit. It is of the highest importance to us that all area students are enrolled in the high school that best meets their needs.

We prioritize four practices:

1. We Meet Student Needs. We know that none of us can reach our potential unless our needs are met. These include our physiological and safety needs, as well as our sense of belonging and self-esteem.

2. We Invest In Every Relationship. Creating connections and building relationships creates a sense of community at New West High School that is the foundation of our educational program. Strong relationships create understanding and allow us to overcome challenges together.

3. We Treat Everyone With Dignity and Respect. All of our students participate in an intentionally-designed, immersive (often fun!) orientation program that not only describes our expectations for how to treat each other and themselves, but builds their capacity for treating everyone in our community with dignity and respect everyday.

4. We Give Students Hope. Although there is always hope, it is sometimes hard to see the way. We prioritize helping students see the way to a better tomorrow.