As part of my doctoral program, I was asked to conduct a program evaluation of an existing program in our own school district. I chose the Goochland High School Senior Project, which was launched when the new Goochland High School was opened in 2001.
In 2013, I conducted a formal evaluation of Goochland High School’s Senior Project, a graduation requirement designed to provide students with authentic learning experiences beyond the classroom. Through community service, job shadowing, or independent creative projects, students worked with adult mentors to develop workplace readiness skills, explore career interests, and prepare for life after high school. The evaluation drew on interviews with teachers and surveys of students and parents to assess how effectively the program was meeting its intended goals.
The findings revealed both strengths and opportunities for improvement. Students valued the freedom to pursue personal interests and generally reported positive experiences with their teachers and mentors. However, questions remained about the program’s academic rigor, its effectiveness as a culminating high school experience, and whether students and families fully understood its purpose. The report recommended continuing the program while strengthening communication, clarifying expectations, and improving opportunities for meaningful student learning and reflection.
