Linworth Alternative Program

The Linworth Alternative Program opened in the fall of 1973[1] as another high school option for students who attended Worthington High School. In 1991, Worthington High School was renamed Thomas Worthington High School and the district opened a new high school: Worthington Kilbourne High School. Linworth is now an option for students who would attend either of the district's high schools. The goal of the program is to fully engage students in their educations. This is accomplished by creating situations in which students have to make choices, take on more responsibility, and to actively apply what they have learned through experiential education.

The Walkabout program is designed for seniors who have met graduation requirements prior to the second semester of their senior year. It is provided to help students explore their possible career paths and to help students become more independent. Students plan two eight week, off campus activities which they will attend full-time. Students may choose anything in a related field of their desire with staff approval. Students are required to keep journals throughout their experience. The purpose of journaling is to have students reflect and think about their experiences away from school and in some cases away from home.[2]

Town meeting is the school's form of government and has been a part of the program since its beginning. Students and teachers have an opportunity to bring up issues that concern the Linworth, their home school or city events that they would like to make known. Town Meeting provides students an opportunity to get more involved in their school government and decision making. Town Meeting largely replaces Student Council at traditional high schools. Every person—regardless of status as a student, teacher, or administrator—gets one vote on all meeting initiatives.[3]

Linworth Directors from past to present are:

1973 to 1976

John Miller[4]

1976 to 1978

Rick Studer

1978 to 1991

Barb (Laird) Hill[5]

1991 to 2012

Wayne Harvey[6]

2012 to Present

Chris Hasebrook[6]

Linworth Alternative Program organizes student reunions every five years. All alumni, students, families and faculty from 1973 to present are invited to attend the reunions. These reunions take place on the school grounds. The most recent gathering, the 40th Linworth Reunion, was held on July 6, 2013. 400 staff, alumni, and children attended the event.

Founded in 2012, the Alumni Linworth Alumni Partnership is a non-profit group dedicated to the advancement of Linworth Alternative Program and its past, current and future students. The mission of the Linworth Alumni Partnership is to connect and support the Linworth community through mentorship, networking, fundraising and event planning.

The Linworth National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) team has attended the Great Lakes Bowl, the regional competition held each year at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.[7]

1999

6th place out of 15 teams

2001

3rd place out of 12 teams

2002

2nd place out of 11 teams

2003

2nd place

2004

1st place

2005

1st place. Finished 9th place in the national competition in Biloxi, MS.

2012

3rd place[8] (behind two perennial adult winners).