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Americans share a collective memory of what it means to go to high
school. That is because in the last century high school has remained
largely unchanged. The world, on the other hand, is radically different.
Schools modeled around 20th century needs cannot adequately prepare
young people for 21st century demands. While most people say they want
schools to be better, they don't necessarily want them to change. But
change is needed.
Large, comprehensive high schools are obsolete. Designed to provide an
excellent education to a handful of students, they leave the vast
majority inadequately prepared for college, work and citizenship. Three
decades of research shows that an efficient and cost effective
alternative is small high schools.
Successful, small schools provide all students access to rigorous
curriculum that allows them to achieve to their highest potential. In a
personalized learning environment, small schools reach students who
would otherwise get lost in the system.
We hope you will explore reasons for changing our high schools by
examining:
The work to change schools will require everyone's attention. A
society's economic and social strength corresponds directly to the level
of education attained by its citizens. That makes education everyone's
business.
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