Special Report
Special Report

High School Redesign

June 2, 2016
  • Equity & Diversity U.S. Graduation Rate Breaks Another Record
    Eighty-two percent of the class of 2014 graduated on time, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education, but American Indian, black, and Latino students continue to trail their white peers.
    EdWeek Research Center, June 2, 2016
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    2 min read
    College & Workforce Readiness Diplomas Count Wraps Up Decade-Long Run
    Over the years, Diplomas Count—in addition to its annual graduation-rate analysis—has highlighted issues critical to the goal of ensuring that all students get an equal opportunity to earn a high school diploma.
    The Editors, June 2, 2016
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    3 min read
    William Watkins, a 10th grader at MC2 STEM High School in Cleveland, explains his group’s capstone project, on the evolution of the bicycle, during a demonstration at the city’s museum of contemporary art. Students at MC2 do hands-on classes and mentorships at museums, higher education institutions, and businesses around the city.
    William Watkins, a 10th grader at MC2 STEM High School in Cleveland, explains his group’s capstone project, on the evolution of the bicycle, during a demonstration at the city’s museum of contemporary art. Students at MC2 do hands-on classes and mentorships at museums, higher education institutions, and businesses around the city.
    Dustin Franz for Education Week
    School & District Management To Build a Better High School, Coherence Is Key
    Some experts say a cohesive design, built around tried-and-true principles, points the way to high-performing high schools.
    Catherine Gewertz, June 2, 2016
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    5 min read
    Andrew Brennen visits with Akbar Khan, a student at the University of California, Berkeley.
    Andrew Brennen visits with Akbar Khan, a student at the University of California, Berkeley.
    Andrew Brennen
    College & Workforce Readiness One Student's Quest to Reshape Schools
    Twenty-year-old Andrew Brennen is traveling the country to encourage students to raise their voices for school improvement.
    Catherine Gewertz, June 2, 2016
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    4 min read
    A midday karate class warms up at Denver’s Northfield High School. Students continue to have the opportunity to take part in physical education classes every day.
    A midday karate class warms up at Denver’s Northfield High School. Students continue to have the opportunity to take part in physical education classes every day.
    Nathan W. Armes for Education Week
    College & Workforce Readiness Redesigned Denver School Gets Rocky Start
    Northfield High School's first-year experience illustrates how difficult it is to remake a traditional high school.
    Jaclyn Zubrzycki, June 2, 2016
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    8 min read
    Students eat lunch in the common area at the high school. One benefit of the three-story “community commons” is that it allows sunlight throughout the day.
    Students eat lunch in the common area at the high school. One benefit of the three-story “community commons” is that it allows sunlight throughout the day.
    Ackerman + Gruber for Education Week
    College & Workforce Readiness Minnesota High School Designed for 'Flexibility'
    Alexandria Area High School was created to accommodate changes in education and technology.
    Jamaal Abdul-Alim, June 2, 2016
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    4 min read
    Junior Noah Eckstein makes a point during a leadership team meeting with educators at Harwood Union High School. Students play an unusually large role in developing core policies at the Moretown, Vt., school.
    Junior Noah Eckstein makes a point during a leadership team meeting with educators at Harwood Union High School. Students play an unusually large role in developing core policies at the Moretown, Vt., school.
    Caleb Kenna for Education Week
    Assessment Vt. High School Takes Student Voice to Heart
    At Harwood Union High School, students are deeply involved in shaping school life—including teaching and learning practices.
    Catherine Gewertz, June 2, 2016
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    9 min read
    School & District Management Boston Solicits Public for High School Redesign Ideas
    More than 2,000 parents, educators, residents, and students have offered their views on how to reshape the city's high schools.
    Corey Mitchell, June 2, 2016
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    6 min read
    Many of the classrooms at Fayetteville High School feature movable walls and double doors so that groups of teachers or students can collaborate and gather in common spaces.
    Many of the classrooms at Fayetteville High School feature movable walls and double doors so that groups of teachers or students can collaborate and gather in common spaces.
    Tim Hursley/DLR Group
    College & Workforce Readiness Arkansas High School Expands on a Human Scale
    Fayetteville High School was designed to feel more like a flexible workplace than a massive institution.
    Jamaal Abdul-Alim, June 2, 2016
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    2 min read
    Special Education Diplomas Count 2016 Map: Graduation Rates by State, Student Group
    This map includes state-by-state graduation rate data, as well as state graduation rates for historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups.
    June 2, 2016
    Erick Ramos, second from right, a senior at Mission Early College High School in El Paso, has a laugh with friends at his school. The group belongs to the Smash Club, where they play Super Smash Bros. on a TV they bring from home. Ramos has already earned enough credits through the school’s dual-credit program to be a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso.
    Erick Ramos, second from right, a senior at Mission Early College High School in El Paso, has a laugh with friends at his school. The group belongs to the Smash Club, where they play Super Smash Bros. on a TV they bring from home. Ramos has already earned enough credits through the school’s dual-credit program to be a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso.
    Ivan Pierre Aguirre for Education Week
    College & Workforce Readiness Students in El Paso Get Leg Up on College
    A network of early-college high schools on the Texas border is nudging first-generation students onto the path to college.
    Liana Loewus, June 2, 2016
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    10 min read
    From left, Trinity Tyler, Oliver Treven, and Gabrielle Johnson work on installing LED lights in the speaker they built for their freshman engineering capstone project at Cleveland’s MC2 STEM High School.
    From left, Trinity Tyler, Oliver Treven, and Gabrielle Johnson work on installing LED lights in the speaker they built for their freshman engineering capstone project at Cleveland’s MC2 STEM High School.
    Dustin Franz for Education Week
    College & Workforce Readiness Cleveland School Makes City Its Classroom
    This STEM-focused school takes all comers and embeds its students in campuses and businesses across the city.
    Sarah D. Sparks, June 2, 2016
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    8 min read
    Bryan High School senior Ashley Gomez, far left, shadows the zookeepers in the lemur exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha. Ashley says the school program spurred her interest in a zoology career.
    Bryan High School senior Ashley Gomez, far left, shadows the zookeepers in the lemur exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha. Ashley says the school program spurred her interest in a zoology career.
    Ryan Henriksen for Education Week
    College & Workforce Readiness Students Blaze Career Paths at Omaha High School
    From zookeeping to transportation logistics, Bryan High School's career classes reflect real local economic needs.
    Caralee J. Adams, June 2, 2016
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    6 min read
Coverage of trends in K-12 innovation and efforts to put these new ideas and approaches into practice in schools, districts, and classrooms is supported in part by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York at www.carnegie.org. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.