Wanting Charter Status

Clusters let kids shape own learning program

It's Friday afternoon at Mount Vernon Elementary in North Hall. Running's not allowed, so the school's nearly 700 students are power-walking with excitement down the green and white-tiled halls. Mount Vernon has upgraded its clubs to something called enrichment clusters, and the students are eager to get to them. The clusters are an experiment in project-based learning, which is what the school will focus on if it pursues charter status this fall. Whether it is sewing or saving animals, cooking or criminal justice, interior design or dance, students can choose from a dozen clusters based on their own interests. The end result is either a product, service or performance.