Minnesota New Country School doesn’t look much like a regular high school, and it sure doesn’t feel like one, either.

But when it comes to charter schools, New Country is among the best in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

In a report released by the Department today, the small Henderson school is touted as one of eight outstanding charter schools across the United States.

It’s being lauded for closing achievement gaps in student testing, serving underprivileged students (about 25 percent of students classify as special education and receive free and reduced lunch) and setting high expectations through a nontraditional educational platform.

“We’re doing something pretty radical,” said Jim Wartman, an advisor and social studies teacher at New Country.

Instead of classrooms, the school building consists of a large open space with cubicle-like workspaces where each of its nearly 110 students get their own personal computer.

The 6-12 school mixes all of its grades together during instruction, lunch and assemblies. There are no periods, scheduled breaks or structure to the school day.

Students spend the majority of their four-day week working on individualized projects. The tactic is known as project based learning, which makes up for almost the entire school curriculum.

Math is the only subject with direct instruction.

In order for project learning to work, it’s essential for teachers to develop an intimate rapport with students, Wartman said.

“The more time I spend teaching a class, the less I can spend with a student,” he said. “We’re more like the real world. We talk to (students) like co-workers.”

After students devise projects — usually based on their interests — teachers mentor them and make sure their research aligns with state and federal standards.

The goal is to prepare students for the real world and post-secondary endeavors.

That’s why past projects have included a student building a recording studio and another constructing a motorcycle from scratch.

“If it’s real life, it’s valuable to them,” said Dee Thomas, the lead advisor at New Country. “When they create a project around their passion, they see value in it.”