A little bit about us:

Creative Minds Alternative School opened its doors in 1996. Our goal was to help at-risk kids who found themselves in danger of falling through the cracks of the more traditional public schools. We wanted to change things and offer students a real alternative. Our community needed a different type of school. Licensed and registered as a middle school education provider for the state of Oregon, our program was designed to help kids find success, to keep them from giving up.

With our middle school showing great results, we opened a Creative Minds high school program in the spring of 1999. Our core classroom model remained the same, and with certain Oregon State Standards and credit requirements, the classrooms gained more structure. We wanted to make school fun and challenging for our high school students. Our staff and instructors wanted to equip them with the tools they would need to be successful in their lives. We felt that our students needed to learn to think for themselves and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Our primary focus, the cornerstone of Creative Minds, is the small student-to-teacher ratio of our classrooms. Each of our instructors has no more than five students per class. This allows our teachers to build relationships with the students and helps students get the individual attention that they need and deserve. Our teachers are able to individualize their lesson plans and give students the freedom to work at a pace appropriate to their skill levels. Additionally, we encourage our students to get involved with the community and earn extra credits outside of school through internships, volunteering and work study.

Creative Minds is a dynamic program that continues to evolve based upon the needs of our students. We strive to provide a safe, caring environment where students can discover their talents, work through their challenges, and feel comfortable being themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Creative Minds Alternative School

What is Creative Minds?
Creative Minds is an academic-based, alternative school for middle and high school students that would benefit from small class sizes.

What is the student to teacher ratio at Creative Minds?
At Creative Minds we have a student to teacher ratio of 5:1

How long is the school day?
It is three hours long. We offer two, part-time school sessions. The morning session runs from 9am to 12pm. The afternoon session is from 1pm to 4pm.

How many classes do students take and how long are the classes?
Each student will have four, 45 minute classes per day.

Is Creative Minds an accredited high school?
Yes. Creative Minds has been accredited since 2005 through the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS.)

What types of students attend your school?
That’s really hard to say. Different types of students seem to do well here— kids in danger of falling through the cracks of more traditional schools or those who just aren’t finding success in public schools. Some common reasons that students enroll in Creative Minds include the following: academic struggles, social difficulty and/or anxiety, attendance issues, or in need of help for their IEP accommodations. In general, our students tend to be kids that need and benefit from more attention and smaller class sizes.

What types of classes are offered at your school?
Currently we offer classes in Social Studies, Mathematics, Language Arts, Visual Arts, Health, and Science.

If I want my child to attend Creative Minds, how do I go about the enrollment procedure?
Although this varies by school, start by talking to your principal or guidance counselor about seeking alternative school placement. Next you should call Creative Minds to schedule an interview and tour.

How do I pay for my child to attend Creative Minds?
Most students who attend Creative Minds have received a referral from their home school district. This referral is a document stating that the school district will pay Creative Minds with a percentage of that student’s state allotted funds. You may also pay the school privately if you are not given a referral.

Who do I contact if I have questions or would like a tour of the school?
Please contact Tiffany King at (541) 344-9712.