According to the U.S. Department of Education, the country’s graduation rate hit an all-time high in 2013 at more than 80 percent. More high schools across the country are developing innovative ways to help students succeed and enter college. These are five top examples.
1. Clintondale High School
This high school is located in Clinton, Michigan. The school’s focus is to help each student get further ahead while there, which is why they have what they call a flipped classroom. Students spend most of their class hours working on assignments, and they spend approximately an hour at home preparing for the next day’s assignments. This structure also helps students avoid hindrances at home that normally keep them from studying. Since many parents are unable to help their kids at home with schoolwork, this method also eliminates any challenges related to that. The school boasts a graduation rate of almost 100 percent since the program started.
2. Pathways In Technology Early College High School
As one of Brooklyn’s most innovative high schools, this public institution’s aim is to help minority students who may face obstacles in attending college complete high school and an associate’s degree in one place. When students finish the traditional required four years, they stay an additional two years to earn a degree that focuses on engineering or computer science. To offer this unique educational model, the school partners with several local colleges and IBM. Some students also receive paid internships at IBM.
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3. Civic High School
This charter high school is actually located inside of the San Diego Public Library. It opened its doors in 2013 with the library itself playing a key role in the educational program. The library gives students access to over 1 million books, several reading rooms, an auditorium and an art gallery. Classrooms feature furniture that is easy to move, and students can write on the walls to chart their ideas. Students are given MacBook Air computers to take home for learning purposes. Since more than 75 percent of the students are below the poverty level, this school greatly improves their access to educational tools.
4. Harvey Milk High School
Although this high school does not have discriminatory admission practices, it was designed with the purpose of providing a nurturing environment for LGBTQ students. Many students arrive at the school with health and job needs. This institution provides a quality education and prepares them for the challenges they will face in society. It has helped many at-risk students who were in unstable situations get the stability and support needed to succeed.
5. Lake View High School
This Chicago school gives students the opportunity to earn college credits while they complete their high school education. Students focus on math, engineering, technology or science. In addition to these core focuses, they can choose a path of world language, humanities or music and visual arts. The overall goal is to help students develop better critical thinking skills, collaborative skills and technological literacy. In addition to the many prestigious achievements and honors earned by students, the school has an impressive graduation rate with nearly 70 percent of its graduates enrolling in four-year colleges.
A good high school education is a building block toward a successful future. Students can still succeed in college whether they attended a great high school or an average one. The most important tool in today’s competitive job market is a four-year college degree, and the first step toward that is choosing a desired career and a degree path for that career.
