We are a public, non profit charter school dedicated to a progressive, project-based approach to education. 100% of students complete academic internships and 99% of graduates are admitted to a two or four year university.
Personalization
High Tech High teachers practice a learner-centered, inclusive approach that supports and
challenges each student. Students pursue their passions through projects, and reflect on
their learning. Recognizing that identity development and personal growth occur in the
context of community, our schools foster relationships of trust, caring, and mutual respect
among students and adults through program design elements such as small school size,
small classes, home visits, advisories, and student collaborative work.
Authentic Work
High Tech High school projects integrate hands and minds and incorporate inquiry across
multiple disciplines, leading to the creation of meaningful and beautiful work. Students
engage in work that matters to them, to their teachers, and to the world outside of school.
Students connect their studies to the world through fieldwork, community service,
internships, and consultation with outside experts. Our facilities are collaborative
workplaces with small-group learning and project areas, relevant technology, and common
spaces where artwork, prototypes, and other artifacts of student thinking are created and
displayed.
Collaborative Design
High Tech High teachers collaborate to design curriculum and projects, lead professional
development, and participate in hiring, while seeking student experience and voice in each
of these areas. With students as design partners, staff function as reflective practitioners,
conducting inquiry into equitable teaching and learning, school culture, project design, and
authentic assessment. HTH’s focus on equity and integration drives a continuing
reexamination of structure and practice. We are all still learning.
High Tech High is an equity project. Teachers work actively to address inequities and help
students reach their full potential. Our schools are intentionally diverse and integrated,
enrolling students through a zip code-based lottery aimed at creating schools that are
reflective of the communities we serve. Teachers recognize the value of having students
from different backgrounds working together, and employ a variety of approaches to
accommodate diverse learners without academic tracking. All High Tech High graduates
complete the requirements for acceptance into the California public university system.