uggan Expeditionary Learning Middle School emphasizes high achievement through active learning, character growth and teamwork. Duggan students participate in active, hands-on, project-based learning, focusing on academic excellence and the character values of the Duggan Way: respect, responsibility, quality, courage, and compassion for all students, faculty, administration and staff.

Learning Expeditions:

 EL schools address academic subjects through challenging, standards-based units with hands-on projects that are often interdisciplinary in nature. Our students have conducted first-hand research about development around the Connecticut River and white-water rafted on the river, served lunch at a local homeless shelter and interviewed residents there as a part of their research project about the causes of homelessness, and done primary research about the American Revolution as they explored battle sites at Lexington and Concord. 

Small School Focus:

All teachers at Duggan serve as advisors to a group of up to 12 students who meet weekly during what is known of in EL as “Crew,” from the expression used by Outward Bound founder, Kurt Hahn, ”We are crew, not passengers.”  The purpose of Crew is to support character development, academic growth, student goal-setting and community-building . With the help of their advisors, students participate in team-building games to help them reflect on how to deal with obstacles and challenges. Students participate in service projects, set quarterly goals and create a portfolio of their best academic work.

Broadcast Journalism at Duggan:

Duggan students have the opportunity to participate in television production and broadcast journalism, working in our in-house TV studio. Students gain experience working on-air, behind the cameras filming daily broadcasts from WDMS, as script writers, directors and producers.