high school Archives

Denver is opening more specialized classrooms as the number of students with autism grows

October 2, 2026 by Melanie Asmar, Chalkbeat

As the number of children identified with autism rises nationwide, more students are needing special education services.

The autism center at Denver’s West High School is twice as big as a typical classroom and more than half as empty. That’s intentional: These specialized centers are…

Case Study: Reaching the Students Traditional Ed-Tech Budgets Miss

October 1, 2026September 28, 2026 by Vcarlson

AI, online coursework, and remote learning are raising the bar for connectivity in and out of the classroom. Learn how ... Read more

College and Career Readiness

Inspiring curiosity for career exploration and mentoring for pathway success

September 24, 2026September 23, 2026 by Michael Collins, Ruben S. Ayala High School

Career exploration should be combined with visible connections to career pathways that align with a student’s interests and aspirations.

In my eight years as a high school CTE, Engineering and Architecture Pathway instructor, I have witnessed students and their families struggle to navigate their career trajectory. Every…

College and Career Readiness

Uncovering the college and career readiness shifts that exceptional school systems are making

August 19, 2026 by Dr. T.J. Vari, MaiaLearning & Thomas O’Brien, Winward Academy

Instilling college and career readiness in students is the cumulative result of thousands of intentional moments across 13 years of schooling

If you ask most educators where college and career readiness (CCR) begins, many will point to high school. That's when many students start thinking seriously about graduation requirements,…

District Management

The grading paradox: Better data is key to understanding real subject mastery

August 12, 2026August 6, 2026 by Chris Rose, Abre

A unified data system offers a shared roadmap where every stakeholder has the clarity to understand subject mastery.

There’s a confusing trend going on in the nation’s classrooms: While national test scores have dropped to levels not seen in decades, average high school GPAs are actually…

College and Career Readiness

WorkKeys is lowering the bar on student proficiency

July 16, 2026 by Christy Hovanetz, Ph.D, ExcelinEd

Allowing WorkKeys to substitute for ACT proficiency does not redefine success; it lowers the bar for what counts as proficient.

School accountability systems measure whether students are mastering the academic standards states expect them to teach and signal where additional support is needed. Education is one of the largest budget…

Teaching Trends

Children learn best on paper: We need better technology, not less of it

July 13, 2026 by Abbas Manjee, Kiddom

Technology should make teachers' work lives easier and their impact more powerful, not have students spend more time on screens.

It is an odd thing to hear from someone who builds education technology for a living, but the most important tool in an elementary classroom is still a…

College and Career Readiness

Despite concerns, Gen Z students are optimistic about AI

May 20, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

A new report ranks Gen Z's top 100 dream colleges, preferred employers, and the values shaping their career decisions--including views on AI.

There’s never been a more turbulent time for young people to plan for and embark on their futures, and a new survey gives insights on their feelings and…

District Management

What it takes to build teacher confidence in math: 4 lessons for district leaders

May 4, 2026May 4, 2026 by Olivia Paris, Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19

$As teacher confidence grows, the way that math feels in the classroom begins to shift and evolves into a move positive experience.$

After 20 years teaching high school math, I thought I understood why students struggled. Then I sat in my first professional learning session focused on early math and…

Curriculum & Assessment

It’s time to rewrite math standards for the future–and to stop expecting AI to do it for us

April 12, 2026April 9, 2026 by Jill Diniz & James Tanton, SmartWithIt

$As we look ahead and begin to redefine math education, one thing is abundantly clear: AI won’t fix bad pedagogy.$

While nearly every industry is racing to integrate artificial intelligence, most schools are still teaching high school math the way it’s been done for decades--rooted in instructional material…

District Management

Sustainable change starts with educator voice

April 6, 2026 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University & the College of Westchester

When educator voice helps shape the work of their schools, change becomes a shared commitment to better outcomes for students.

School leaders everywhere are working to implement change--new initiatives, new instructional frameworks, new technologies, new approaches to student support.

School Management

5 secrets to stronger high school connections

March 31, 2026 by Tracey Widmann, McDowell High School

A comprehensive school communication system often means the difference between parents knowing they’re true partners and feeling left out.

I’ve been a principal for 14 years, during which time I served as the leader of an alternative school, an early college, and a large middle school. Through…

AI in Education

Student use of AI for homework rises as concerns grow about critical thinking skills

March 25, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

Students are clearly embracing AI as a learning tool, but they’re also conflicted about what it means for their own learning.

Student use of AI for homework increased in 2025, even as more students are worried the technology may be harming their ability to think critically, according to a…

AI in Education

Nearly half of high school students now use AI in college search

March 4, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

A new survey of high school students finds AI has growing influence on whether students go to college, where they apply, and what they study.

AI is transforming the way students discover, evaluate, and choose colleges, according to a national survey of more than 5,000 high school students conducted by education company EAB.

College and Career Readiness

From high school to career: 6 CTE trends to track in 2026

February 27, 2026 by Dirk Butler, NAF

States and employers are increasingly integrating CTE into broader workforce and talent development strategies.

Without a doubt, career and technical education (CTE) is priceless for high school students wanting to get real-world, hands-on job skills before they graduate and turn their interests…

College and Career Readiness

Building pathways to purpose: How we can empower students for an uncertain future

February 15, 2026February 9, 2026 by Dr. David Dimmett, Project Lead the Way & Lisa Dughi, NAF

Students who receive exposure to career pathways through district and community partnerships have a better chance of professional success.

One day, something clicked for Jacob Griffin's students. Mr. Griffin, a teacher at the NAF Academy of Engineering at Southeast Raleigh High School in North Carolina, found that…

College and Career Readiness

The end of one-direction career pathways: Why empowering students sets the best course for future success

November 24, 2025 by Nick Gross, Find Your Grind

Schools have the opportunity to help students identify their desired lifestyle, existing strengths, and possible career pathways.

When middle school students make the leap to high school, they are expected to have a career path in mind so their classes and goals align with their…

AI in Education

AI, CTE are key to preparing students for future careers

October 8, 2025 by ESchool Media Contributors

Rising educator confidence in CTE and growing urgency for AI tools that build--not bypass--students’ essential skills.

Educators are embracing AI and career and technical education (CTE) as keys to preparing students for their future after high school, according to the 2025 Savvas Educator Index…

College and Career Readiness

Tools and ideas to engage students in career-connected learning

October 7, 2025 by Dr. Angie Haro, EdD, Education Service Center Region 19

Career-connected learning ensure that all students graduate prepared, inspired, and equipped to thrive in college and the workforce.

For nearly two decades, I’ve worked to improve teaching and learning with technology. And while the continuously evolving nature of technology has changed the trajectory of my career…

Literacy

Strengthening middle school literacy: What educators need to know

October 1, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Building middle school literacy doesn’t just improve test scores--it gives students the skills to succeed in every subject.

Literacy has always been the foundation of learning, but for middle school students, the stakes are especially high. These years mark the critical shift from learning to read…

District Management

Beyond AI: Human connection still drives school attendance

November 7, 2025August 28, 2025 by Dr. Kara Stern, SchoolStatus

When it comes to school attendance, showing up to school is a human decision driven by authentic relationships--not AI.

At ISTE this summer, I lost count of how many times I heard "AI" as the answer to every educational challenge imaginable. Student engagement? AI-powered personalization!

Teaching Trends

Why high schools should use teaching assistants

August 15, 2025 by Samuel M. Baule, U.S. Army & Marian University

Adopting teaching assistants could help reduce teacher workload and increase student outcomes--all positives for today's busy educators.

Exam scores always seem to go up. Whether it’s the SAT when applying for college or an AP score to earn college credit, competitive scores seem to be…

Literacy

4 tips to support the literacy needs of middle and high school students

August 8, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

A new report underscores the literacy challenges of older students left behind by the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions to learning.

Today's middle schoolers continue to struggle post-pandemic to read and write at the level needed to successfully navigate more complex academic content in the upper grades and beyond.

AI in Education

Students are anxious about the future with AI–their parents are, too

August 5, 2025 by Michael B. Horn, Clayton Christensen Institute

In an era when the college-going rate of high school graduates has dropped, AI appears to be heightening anxieties about the value of college

In a Spring 2024 Education Next article, I argued that, despite the conventional wisdom that students were all in on artificial intelligence (AI), many in high school and college felt…

Literacy

How we’re rebuilding literacy–and confidence–in our high school

July 28, 2025July 28, 2025 by Cindy Walker, Birmingham Community Charter High School

What began as a literacy strategy to help students access grade-level texts turned into a catalyst for broader reading transformation.

By the time students reach high school, reading struggles are harder to hide--and harder to address. Unlike early grades where texts are simpler and foundational skills are the…

AI in Education

Bridging the language gap with AI tools every teacher can use

January 14, 2026July 22, 2025 by Nesreen El-Baz, ESL Educator

AI tools and supports could mean the difference between silent confusion and real understanding for English Learners.

AI tools aren’t a replacement for good teaching, but they offer powerful scaffolds. Teachers can differentiate, reinforce, and expand instruction, without needing to become language specialists.

AI in Education

How Kai Cenat saved my high school English class

July 15, 2025 by Mathias Muschal, Cardinal Ritter College Prep, Archdiocese of St. Louis

When students have opportunities to record their thoughts on video, they communicate effectively in a modern medium without turning to AI.

Like many teachers since the public release of ChatGPT, I’ve encountered frustration. For a lot of us, it has felt as though we are spending more of our…

College and Career Readiness

Middle and high school students need education, career guidance

July 10, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

Students need early access to career education and opportunities that empower them to pursue their interests and strengths.

Students need more support around education paths and career options, including hands-on experiences, according to a new nationwide survey from the nonprofit American Student Assistance.

College and Career Readiness

Teachers see online learning as critical for workforce readiness in 2025

July 7, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

High school educators report at least half of their curriculum will focus on skills-based learning to prepare students for future success.

In an era where workforce demands and the needs of high school learners are rapidly evolving, a new survey by Penn Foster Group sheds light on how teachers…

AI in Education

My high school Spanish teacher taught me about the original AI–Authentic Interaction

June 16, 2025 by Becca Katz, Chalkbeat

When a teacher builds a face-to-face relationship with students , it is, as it turns out, just as impactful as many edtech tools and resources

As AI dominates the education zeitgeist, I think it’s time to highlight an effective teaching tool as tried and true as a Ticonderoga No. 2 pencil: high-quality IRL…

College and Career Readiness

Many states picked diploma pathways over high school exit exams. Did students benefit?

June 13, 2025 by Kalyn Belsha, Chalkbeat

Diploma pathways appear to have helped more students who aren’t college-bound to graduate, but they also have created new issues.

When 18-year-old Edgar Brito thinks about what he’ll do in the future, mechanical engineering is high on the list. The senior at Washington state’s Toppenish High School first…

aiEDU and The Rithm Project Partner to Infuse Human Connection into AI Literacy Through High School ELA Curriculum

June 11, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

DENVER — The AI Education Project (aiEDU) and The Rithm Project are proud to announce a new partnership focused on ... Read more

College and Career Readiness

Most students aren’t ready for life after high school

June 11, 2025June 9, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Too many classrooms still lack career-connected learning opportunities that help students see how their education applies in the real world.

Students are navigating a rapidly changing world with outdated tools and minimal guidance. We need urgent action to redesign how we prepare young people for life after high…

The AI Gap: Why Teachers Can’t Afford to Wait on the Sidelines

June 6, 2025 by Kevin Hogan

Tired of talking about AI? That’s too bad. The technology remains the most impactful force in education. The challenge becomes ... Read more

Online & Hybrid Learning

The best tools to create blended learning environments

May 28, 2025 by Lori Oldham, Park Elementary School

In a dynamic blended learning environment, the teacher is a facilitator of learning, mentoring and guiding students as they progress.

Thirty unique, energetic learners enter a bright, welcoming 4th grade classroom. The students’ academic levels span an incredible range--from kindergarten-level skills to almost high school-level proficiency.

Students with Special Needs

Crafting environments where students with autism thrive

May 29, 2025May 27, 2025 by Joie Laykoff, Fusion Education Group

Prioritizing clarity, consistency, and connection helps students with autism meet challenges and celebrate progress.

Recent public commentary about autism has brought new urgency to the conversation. Awareness alone isn’t enough--students on the spectrum benefit from environments where their needs are understood, respected,…

Innovation Insights

Alliant Credit Union Foundation Grants $108K to Boost AI and Digital Programs at Ridgewood High School

May 26, 2025 by Kevin Hogan

The Alliant Credit Union Foundation has awarded a $108,000 grant to Digital Leaders Now, the nonprofit that powers the Digital Leaders Academy ... Read more

AI in Education

Students learn the basics of AI as they weigh its use in their future careers

May 23, 2025 by Jessie Gómez, Chalkbeat

On a recent Thursday morning, Michael Taubman asked his class of seniors at North Star Academy’s Washington Park High School: “What do you think AI’s role should be…

Innovation Insights