<p>I’m trying to list the features of a dream high school-- what am I missing?</p>
<p>Hallmarks of an Outstanding High School</p>
<li><p>Top-notch facilities; clean classrooms and hallways, well- maintained grounds, fully-equipped science labs, sports facilities, library, internet, language labs, art and music rooms.</p></li>
<li><p>Intelligent, creative and motivating teachers; trained in their disciplines, happy to be working at the school, working with small classes of less than 15 students, role models in behavior and values.</p></li>
<li><p>Interesting and challenging curricula; classes offered that actually teach the students something new, in-depth research available to motivated students, flexibility in choosing classes depending on the students interests. School helpful in lining up summer internships and research mentorship.</p></li>
<li><p>Minimum time-wasting; no watching of movies in class, administrative tasks done infrequently and quickly, showing a real commitment to valuing the students time.</p></li>
<li><p>Excellent, tasty and healthful lunch options.</p></li>
<li><p>Field trips and off-campus activities organized by the school; trips to cultural events, historical sites, courthouses and legal venues, research laboratories, university seminars, workshops and conferences.</p></li>
<li><p>Varied sports, clubs and extra-curricular activities; students are encouraged to start their own clubs, reasonable budgets are allocated for student activities.</p></li>
<li><p>Conflict-resolution practiced throughout the school; student disputes are mediated in a thoughtful and reasonable manner, violence and theft are not permitted, students feel secure in their environment.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>-Offers all APs available from CB
-Brilliant, ambitious students who are there to learn, not just to get good grades and are coincidentally, also extremely hot.
-Staff and students have school spirit
-Diverse student body</p>
<p>Why are you looking for features of a dream hs, btw?</p>
<p>Switch #1 & # 2. Teachers are more important than the building. Although it helps if the building is conducive to learning.</p>
<p>BTW, I echo schritzo: "Why are you looking for features of a dream hs?" Are you looking for ideas for an application essay? Because I've seen similar questions on applications.</p>
<p>Actually we're moving to a new area, and I'm trying to evaluate the high school there in some sort of organized way. Trying to think about what features make a high school outstanding...</p>
<p>CUT CARDS
i think my school is the only one with these. If you make honor roll, you get to skip 3 classes the next marking period; if you make merit roll, you get to skip 1 class. These are good for last minute studying and essay writing ;)</p>
<p>Anne/PA, in that case I'd start with small class sizes. It's hard to measure teacher quality, especially from the outside, but class size is quantifiable. I'd also look at their results and see if they match up to what you're looking for - what % of graduates go to 4 year college, and which colleges they attend, for example. </p>
<p>Also I'd look for a school's whose administration & staff understand that they are dealing with TEENAGERS and that balance is important in life. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. (Although all play and no work makes Jack an underachiever.)</p>
<p>
[quote]
CUT CARDS
i think my school is the only one with these. If you make honor roll, you get to skip 3 classes the next marking period; if you make merit roll, you get to skip 1 class. These are good for last minute studying and essay writing
[/quote]
Yeah, that seems great, but I don't know if it makes a high school OUTSTANDING.</p>
<p>something else to add, for public high schools specifically: a supportive community. Whenever those budget votes, referendums, etc. come up that would affect budgets for the school, the district, and it's programs, it greatly helps to have a supportive voting community.</p>
