Learning expeditions involve long-term explorations of single themes, such as civil rights or local ecology, that engage students in multidisciplinary projects, fieldwork, and community service. Students are asked to reflect on and critique their own work and that of others. Teachers design fun and challenging learning expeditions that will also prepare students to meet state and district standards. In addition, ELOB schools invite members of their communities to help define standards for students. A carpenter or a banker might visit to talk about what skills are needed for those jobs.
Students also venture into the community to do fieldwork.
The school has been scaling new peaks ever since. King is a richly diverse school. Stereotypes might suggest that such a school would not perform as well as wealthier, suburban schools on standardized tests. But in the past few years, King's scores on the Maine Educational Assessment have risen to above average, even as the assessment itself has been made more difficult. Team spirit is evident among King's faculty now.