
High ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ was originally created during the Industrial Revolution as a way to train factory workers. Most high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµs today still follow that original model — down to the bell schedule. But we can learn from the innovative ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµs like this one, which has broken the mold in several ways, including giving all students the learning accommodations they need to succeed.
In addition to learning from innovative ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµs, research helps us understand what works best in terms of teaching strategies and teen brain development. For example, we now know there’s no such thing as an “average” student, and it’s better to let kids learn at their own pace. This award-winning early college high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ gives all students accommodations while those students are simultaneously completing all four years of high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ and up to the first two years of college.
So what kind of high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ do we need in the 21st century? This video is part of our Transforming High School project with articles, videos, Season 3 of our podcast, and tools to help parents and educators understand why high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ is the way it is — and all of the modern, research-backed ways it can change for the better. Not all ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµs need to be exactly like this one, but there are solutions for every community. Discover what you think will work for your child and your ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ and share it with your child, teachers, the principal, the superintendent, and the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ board. When parents raise their voices, change really can happen.
Find out more about Transforming High School
- Watch:The problem — and promise — of high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ
- Watch: What is early college high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ?
- Watch: Culturally responsive teaching is… good teaching
- Watch: The power of giving students voice and choice
- Read: How ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµs can help overloaded teens
- Read: 7 ways ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµs can help teens suffering with mental health issues
- Read: Giving students voice and choice
- Read: Understanding the power of project-based learning
- Read: How dual enrollment can fuel college success
- Read: How mastery-based pacing helps every student succeed
- Read: The most important class isn’t what you think
- Listen: The problem with high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ
- Watch: Documentary films and videos to help rethink high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ
- Listen: Podcasts to help rethink high ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ
Thank you to Principal Claudia Gomez-Perez of Jimmy Carter Early College High School, which won a ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓÆµ College Success Award.