Our Schools That Work series explores what goes on at some of the most innovative, successful schools around the country. These range from schools with long-standing records of high performance to turnaround schools now on the road to substantially higher achievement. We visit each school to take a close-up look at its best practices and the specific challenges it faces, then we assemble a package of stories and hands-on tools that you can use to replicate some of the school's successes.
Even before we choose a school, we give it a hard look to make sure it delivers the kind of creative, effective, replicable practices that Edutopia can stand behind. Here's a quick look at the standards and the strengths we saw at YES Prep North Central.
| Minimal | Moderate | Strong | |
| Cohesive school culture with high expectations | x | ||
| Focus on 21st-century skills and themes | x | ||
| Use of project learning and integrated studies | x | ||
| Availability and meaningful use of technology | x | ||
| High student achievement and engagement | x | ||
| High or improving scores on standard measures | x | ||
| Use of authentic assessment with real-world application | x | ||
| Emphasis on inquiry and student-directed, rather than only teacher-directed, learning |
x | ||
| Collaborative planning among teachers | x | ||
| Personalized instruction and regular use of assessment to shape teaching and learning |
x | ||
| Close, trusting relationships between staff and students | x | ||
| Empowerment of teachers to help lead school improvement | x | ||
| Relevant, ongoing, job-embedded teacher training | x | ||
| Meaningful involvement of parents and community members | x | ||
| Track record of sustained success for at least two years | x | ||
| Eagerness among staff to share best practices and help other schools replicate their success |
x |
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