Effective schools may take different forms, but they share some common characteristics. They include vision, mission and beliefs held by all stakeholders; the commitment of and opportunity for all stakeholders to be involved in the work of the school; small size (fewer than 100 students per grade); and seven key attributes:
- Common focus,
- High expectations,
- Personalized learning and environment,
- Respect and responsibility,
- Performance-based assessments,
- Time to collaborate, and
- Technology as a tool.
Schools that incorporate these attributes create conditions for powerful teaching and learning, eliminate the achievement gap, and better prepare all students for college, work and citizenship.
The Oregon Small Schools Initiative uses these 7 attributes of high achievement schools as a framework for defining the essential elements of successful small schools. In the Initiative’s School Change Rubric Self-Assessment Tool, these attributes are incorporated into four areas:
We hope you will explore these essential elements to better understand what it takes for small schools to achieve equitable, challenging and personalized learning for all students.
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