Johnson High School showcases eight small learning communities:
- Freshman Focus
- Architecture, Construction and Engineering
- Arts, Communications and Humanities
- Business, Marketing and Management
- Education and Human Services
- Health Sciences
- Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation
- National Resources and Sciences.
Courses designed to support the smaller learning communities include Freshman FOCUS, Foundations (sophomore), Frameworks (junior), and Finale (senior). These classes provide students with the tools to make choices for life beyond high school. Students complete a senior project as a requirement for graduation.
Johnson's four-quarter, four-period schedule gives students more choices for in-depth learning than other school schedules. The curricular program also offers challenging Advanced Placement (AP) courses in twelve subject areas. Students can also earn college credit through College in the Schools (CIS) classes offered by the University of Minnesota and Metropolitan State University, and Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) classes at area colleges and universities.
Special Features:
- Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
PLTW is the preeminent national pre-engineering curriculum for high school students. It is a national program forming partnerships among public schools, higher education institutions and the private sector to increase the quality and quantity of engineers and engineering technologists graduating from the educational system. Students participating in PLTW courses are better prepared for college engineering programs and more likely to be successful, thus reducing the attrition rate in these college programs. Three Project Lead the Way classes are offered: Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, and Biotechnical Engineering.
Other technology opportunities include the St. Paul Career Pathways Academy program, where students have the opportunity to take Digital Electronics (DE) and a Robotics Club where members participated in the FIRST (For Inspiration of Science and Technology) Robotics competition at the University of Minnesota in late March; they finished 29th out of 54 teams.
- Academy Certification - Seniors may earn academy certification for work completed during their three years as members of their academy. The criteria for certification are: 1) a 2.75 GPA or higher in a minimum of eight credits of academy coursework, 2) successful completion of the Senior Project graduation requirement, 3) minimum of thirty hours engaged in community service or career-based experiences.
- Senior Project - Johnson is the only St. Paul high school that requires a Senior Project for graduation. The Senior Project consists of three integrated components: the product or self-selected learning experience, the paper, and the presentation. A series of required classes starting in the ninth-grade year with Freshman FOCUS and followed by sophomore Foundations and junior Frameworks ensure student success with the senior project. Students who want more support and guidance to complete their Senior Project are encouraged to take an elective class, Finale, during their senior year. Exemplary projects are recognized at the Senior Honors Night where winners are awarded scholarships.
- Partnerships - 3M sponsors e-mentoring for African American and Latino students; assists in mock interviews with Frameworks students; provides career speakers for teachers and classes; provides judges for Science Fair activities; and supplies tutors for the BST and MCA tests; sponsors PLTW and FIRST Robotics; and host a luncheon for the Top Ten Scholars and a Senior Picnic at Tartan Park.