High Tech High

Wow! That’s all I can say. If my roots weren’t already planted with my family and our careers, I’d drop everything and move to San Diego to be part of this phenomenal charter school system. While in San Diego for the NASSP convention, I made a stop to tour High Tech High. They started in 2000 as a single charter high school – they’ve quickly grown to include eight schools ranging from elementary to high school. A little background (according to their Web site): “HTH combats the twin problems of student disengagement and low academic achievement by creating personalized, project-based learning environments where all students are known well and challenged to meet high expectations. HTH schools attempt to show how education can be redesigned to ensure that all students graduate well prepared for college, work, and citizenship.”

There is so much that excited me about the schools and their philosophy! They’ve taken a holistic approach to school reform. There are no baby steps being taken to try to change the environment students learn in – it’s an “all or nothing deal” unlike any school culture students have been in before. And that’s why it works! We were told that there have been students who were so committed to being a part of it, that they drove over 80 miles one way to attend.

I was most impressed by the results of the education model they have in place. Every student we talked to was articulate, confident and highly knowledgeable about the project and content she was immersed in. Other things that struck me:

• The schools and staff are now approached by colleges and outside partners with project ideas and resources. Through organic growth, teachers provide students incredible real-world experiences while facilitating academic content.


• The staff is a group of positive, solution-oriented teachers. They have to be! It’s part of teaching in a project-based environment.


• It’s a very intense educational experience. Students and teachers alike gain huge knowledge and experience. As a product of the environment and its demands, the average age of teachers is below 30 and their tenure is typically short (as compared to the traditional school environment). Not everyone is cut out to work here, but those who rise to the top do a tremendous job!


• The HTH system recognizes that, in order for the schools to operate as they’re supposed to, much attention must be given to new teachers. Since the teaching staff typically hasn’t seen anything but a traditional education culture, a new paradigm must be built. Even with the fast growth of the charter schools, they’ve been deliberate about how to make sure all the support systems are in place to replicate the philosophy of High Tech High strategies.



• All of the schools are full of open, transparent spaces. They are very flexible environments. Classroom walls are filled with glass panels, there are “white” boards on most wall surfaces, many classroom walls slide into storage so larger spaces can be created and commons areas serve multiple purposes.

• How do they afford to do all of the projects in the schools? They forgo textbooks. All of the money saved on books is available for teachers to purchase needed materials for the projects they have going on.

If you have the chance to see one of the schools, grab it. I applaud those who teach in and administer the HTH system. Well done!

• Want to see what they’ve accomplished to-date?
• Want to learn more about the schools? Check out their FAQs .
• Check out some of the projects their students have made happen.
• Want to experience the school? Take a tour, be a part of a professional development institute or apply for their graduate school program!
• This isn’t’ your typical summer school!

Credits: All photos are from High Tech High’s Web site.

Professional Development Tip for March 30, 2009