David Stephen and Eve Goldberg
At High Tech High schools in San Diego, students are evaluated on mastery of content—not time spent in class. Students engage in multi-disciplinary and field-based learning opportunities to build skills like critical thinking, problem solving and communication. Each teacher works to develop a personalized school culture, which is supported externally by a network of community members, parents and professionals.
Four design principles facilitate a student-centered school culture: personalization; adult world connection; common intellectual mission; and teacher as designer.