Report On Key Practices of Consistently Higher Performing High Schools

Author: Dolejs, C.
Publisher: National High School Center
Publication Date: 2006, October
Publication City: Washington
Publication State: DC
Full text available online at: http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/ReportOfKeyPracticesandPolicies_10-31-06.pdf

Abstract (written by WestEd)

Based on a study of 74 average and higher performing high schools in ten states, this report identifies the teaching and learning practices that distinguish higher performing high schools from those exhibiting average performance:

• Curriculum and academic goals
  
• Staff selection, leadership, and capacity building
  
• Instructional programs, practices, and arrangements
  
• Monitoring: compilation, analysis, and use of data
  
• Recognition, intervention, and adjustment

For each of these elements, the report provides concrete examples of how higher performing districts, schools, and classrooms have implemented them. The report also outlines the study's methodology and provides takeaways for state leaders — the most important being that states have explicit academic standards in place, without which these practices are not effective.