KINGSPORT, Tenn. – D-B EXCEL (DBE), a non-traditional high school program of Kingsport City Schools (KCS), has received the prestigious Blended Learning Universe (BLU) school designation by the Clayton Christensen Institute.  DBE is one of four BLU schools in the state of Tennessee and is the only high school-level program in the state to carry this designation.

“It is certainly an honor for D-B EXCEL to be named to the BLU school list,” said DBE principal Shanna Hensley.  “Our unique blended learning structure provides an innovative approach to personalized learning, and the BLU school designation not only recognizes the quality of the program, but also helps us share D-B EXCEL with a larger audience.”

DBE is a program of choice for high school students in Kingsport City Schools.  Through an engaging curriculum and an innovative, supportive culture, students accepted into the DBE program excel in one of three personalized learning paths:  virtual, blended, and combination.  Virtual students complete their coursework at home and only attend the DBE campus when they are in need of additional support, blended-learning students complete their coursework on the DBE campus, and combination students complete their coursework partially at home and partially on campus.  These three options provide students with necessary support while maintaining flexibility and personalized pacing.

The Clayton Christensen Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank, based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, dedicated to improving “disruptive innovation,” primarily in the areas of health care and education. For more information about CCI, visit christenseninstitute.org.

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins counties. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and a non-traditional school; with total enrollment over 7,100 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to be, Student Focused … World Class.

KCS has been named the top school district in Tennessee as winner of the 2014 SCORE Prize District Award by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and has earned the 2014 Achievement Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee Recognition Program by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNPCE).

For more information on KCS, visit k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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