Smart List: 10 Innovative High Schools, 10 Deeper Learning Networks

This month Getting Smart is acknowledging people and organizations making a difference with a series of back to school top 10 lists. During August we will run about 40 ‘best of’ lists, not in order, not exhaustive, just people we appreciate. Today we are recognizing 10 interesting high schools schools and 10 networks that promote deeper learning.

Deeper Learning Networks

• Asia Society

• Big Picture Learning

• ConnectEd

• EdVisions Schools

• Envision Education

• Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound

• High Tech High

• Internationals Network for Public Schools

• New Tech Network

• New Visions for Public Schools

We’re profiling schools from each of these networks and exploring what they do well.  Here are the first of a handful of posts (and a paper):

• Deeper Learning: Not Just for Suburban Students

• Deeper Competency-Based Learning

Innovative High Schools

• Career Path High School: at a Salt Lake area Applied Tech Center (see feature)

• Carpe Diem, Yuma AZ, great 6-12 rotation blend (see feature)

• NYC iSchool: problem-based curriculum

• Academy for Software Engineering, IBM sponsored coding school in NYC

• Quest to Learn: game-based middle school

• iPrep: The Miami Flex

• Silicon Valley Flex, San Jose (see Q&A)

• Nexus Lansing: flex plus model (see feature)

• Mooresville High School: where It’s Not About the Machine, It’s About Heart

• Summit San Jose and new and NGLC winning Denali

For more on innovative high schools see: Next Generation Learning Challenge grantee profiles and:

• Next-Gen Models Attack Problems, Leverage Opportunities

• Next-Gen Learning Models Blend Tech & Experiences

• Next-Gen Models Break New Ground, Promote System Redesign

Bonus: there are about 100 next-gen, upper-secondary schools in Denmark with a focus on business (HHX) and STEM (HTX) that are worth visiting.