Made in Montana: The Clark Fork Prep Ethic

Let’s face it: folks love Montana. Whether we take our visitors to hike in the Rattlesnake, explore local history at Fort Missoula, shop Rockin’ Rudy’s funky selection, float from Buckhouse Bridge to Maclay Flats, or experience one of a thousand other treasures in this community, our houseguests depart already planning their next trip to the Garden City.

This is a great place to live–and it’s a perfect location for a place-based high school.

Baked into the CFP ethic is both a commitment to kids and a commitment to Missoula. All too often, young people get lost in the school system shuffle, but Clark Fork Prep places the teenager in the center of our educational framework. As the only Missoula high school dedicated to a comprehensive place-based education, CFP encourages teenagers to truly know–and value–this phenomenal community. 

A focus on place forms the backbone of our independent school structure. Through our quarterly Explorations classes, three-week Immersive blocks, and regular coursework, students learn about the Missoula Valley from the inside. This rootedness to place honors the unique histories, institutions, nonprofits, and businesses that define Missoula.

But place-based education is more than just a celebration of Missoula. “Emphasizing hands-on, real-world learning experiences, this approach to education increases academic achievement, helps students develop stronger ties to their community, enhances students’ appreciation for the natural world, and creates a heightened commitment to serving as active, contributing citizens.” (David Sobel, Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities) CFP’s place-based education framework helps students gain the competencies, information, and attitudes necessary to flourish. 

Learners in place-based education models score higher on standardized tests in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies than peers in traditional classrooms; and they demonstrate advanced critical thinking skills along with a high degree of motivation. Simply put, place-based education encourages engagement and enthusiasm for learning, resulting in strong social-emotional student experiences. (Louise Chawla, “Student Gains From Place-Based Education”)

We all chose to put down roots in Montana, some of us for generations and some as recent transplants. Teenagers invested in this community will become the next generation of nuanced thinkers, informed citizens, local civic leaders, and courageous entrepreneurs.