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Center for Advanced Learning reports strong enrollment, credits saved for families
Summary
The Center for Advanced Learning told the board it serves ~500 students across three districts (275 from Gresham-Barlow), is at capacity with waitlists, and reported students earned 2,769 college credits last year, saving families about $337,818 in tuition-equivalent costs.
Jessica Gallagher, Director of the Center for Advanced Learning (CAL), presented the annual report and highlighted program capacity, student outcomes and partnerships.
Gallagher said CAL enrollment is about 500 students across partner districts, with 275 Gresham-Barlow students and strong program demand that has produced waitlists. She said students earned 2,769 college credits last year—an estimated $337,818 in college-cost savings for families—and that more than 89% of the Class of 2025 are college-bound or pursuing trade programs. She described six program areas (Change Lab, Health Sciences, Media Lab, FAB Lab, Manufacturing Lab, Tech Lab) and emphasized career and technical education pathways into high-wage fields.
Board members asked about AI and other technology integration; Gallagher described a Tech Lab teacher with a cybersecurity background leading professional development and said teachers are exploring ways to use AI as a tool while retaining students' original work. She also confirmed CAL is at capacity and will manage modest attrition while balancing the complexity of serving students from multiple home schools.
"This is how we roll," Gallagher said, describing the updated mission and data-driven focus on integrated programming and shared practices across partner districts.
