When we talk about building a new high school next to our existing K–8 school, we don't think the goal is to make kindergarteners and high school seniors feel like they are attending the same school.

Kids at different ages have different needs. Our K–8 should continue to feel like a K–8, and our high school should continue to feel like a high school.

What changes is the opportunity to connect them.

Research looking at rural Missouri schools compared K–8 districts with K–12 districts and found that the K–12 districts had significantly higher average attendance.

There is also research on cross-age mentoring showing benefits for both younger students and the older students serving as mentors.

Imagine high school students mentoring younger students, trades students sharing what they are learning, older students reading with younger students, students participating in shared arts and activities, and younger students getting to see the opportunities that are waiting for them just a few years ahead.

A shared campus also creates opportunities to share resources, programs and spaces that a small district may not be able to duplicate in two separate locations.

Two developmentally appropriate schools. One campus. Intentional connections.

What could that look like for North Lyon Co. students?