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Our nation’s high schools play a vital role in preparing students to succeed in college and beyond. For the third straight year, we are proud to honor public high schools that have a successful track record of going beyond simply graduating students to helping them enroll in college and succeed once they get there. The 2020 GreatSchools College Success Award recognizes 2,158 high schools, representing about 21% of eligible public high schools across 29 states.
Explore the educational approaches of these extraordinary Award-winning schools.
What does it take for high schools to help all students succeed?
The College Success Award aims to shine a light on high schools across the country that are enabling their students to succeed beyond graduation. But what if some schools face extra challenges? To that end, we have spotlighted three extraordinary winners that serve a high percentage of low-income students. Our goal was to uncover not just the outperformers but to find out more about their practices. What lessons have they learned about supporting struggling students? What’s different about what they do compared to other schools?
Go behind the scenes: When we set out to identify the 2019 National Spotlight Schools, we dove into the data, interviewed schools, and gathered information from multiple sources. The results were eye-opening.
New collection of white papers with College Success Award insights:
Nonselective high schools that help underserved students succeed in college.
Winning districts that prepare their underserved students for college and beyond.
Which charter schools do a better job of supporting underserved students?
See why ongoing teacher development should be a cornerstone of every high school.
How people treat each other has a huge impact on learning. Here’s what to look for.
Allowing students to exercise their voice and choice helps them embrace their own learning paths.
Positive, meaningful relationships between students, teachers, and principals are the foundation for a great school.
Making rigorous classes widely available is crucial if a school wants to help all students succeed in college.
See in action | Read more
Hands-on, real-world learning opportunities give kids purpose and make school relevant.
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Intensive, 1:1 college counseling has a big impact on student success.
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Schools that successfully support at-risk students are more effective for all students because they understand how learning works.
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Conveying a belief in students’ ability to achieve can help students get to college and succeed once there.
When middle and high schools work together, it helps students build the habits of mind they need to succeed.
BROWNSVILLE, TX
Your future starts now
HONOLULU, HI
How community fuels learning
NEWARK, NJ
Systems that change lives
NEWARK, NJ
A principal shares lessons learned
DENVER, CO
College readiness for all
MIAMI, FL
Rigor is the rule
LITHONIA, GA
Excellence is expected
MARSHALL, AR
Creating opportunities in a rural town
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