High Tech High SchoolsDuring the March Center of Excellence retreat in San Diego California, we had the privilege of visiting High Tech High and speaking with their 01. Director of Facilities, Chris Geber, 02. CEO and visionary, Larry Rosenstock, and 03. Facilities Developer, Paul Dooley. Before diving

into the spatial features of the HTH family of schools, we began with a discussion of their pedagogical philosophy. Some highlights:

High Tech High is known primarily for its use of Project Based Learning and interdisciplinary approach. As such,

The HTH model is based on four integrations. Integration of:

• Social classes and ability levels - HTH are lottery based schools that practice full inclusion. This is to honor the notion that schools are democratic, public spaces.

• Head and hand - based on Deweyan philosophy that understanding is best derived from doing.

• School and community - The school space is open to and involving of the community.

• Secondary and post secondary - Education does not exist in a

vacuum, the work of school should bridge to the work of the world and feature education.

It also employs four educational design principles:

• Common intellectual mission

• Personalization

• Adult-world connection

• Teacher as designer

Central to HTH aren’t high stakes tests, but rather Presentations of

Learning to display to peers, teachers, family, and community members your academic development.

educationarchitecture of

PROFILE | HIGH TECH HIGHSan Diego, California

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What you see around High Tech High SchoolsOpen, agile lobbies that double, triple quadruple in purpose • Teamed

classrooms • Mobile partitions • Shared, transparent office space •

Distributed leadership • Windows everywhere • A grade level commons/

project area • Murals • Power tools • UN conference room • Student

work displayed on walls and suspended from vaulting ceilings •

Exposed duct work • Poured concrete floors • Engineering classrooms •

Garage doors • Real time energy monitors • Light • Exposed corridors •

Native plantings • Teachers collaborating • Students in groups •

Homemade hydroponic planting systems • Online, digital portfolios •

Fluidity with the outdoors • LEED • Green screens • Projects in all

states • Philosophies made visible • Art

www.hightechhigh.org

By NumbersFounded: 2000

Students: 3500

Employees: 300

High Schools: 5

Middle Schools: 3

Elementary: 1

College Accept.: 100%

Four year Uni.: 80%

Graduate School

of Education

on site: 1st

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PROFILE | HIGH TECH HIGHSan Diego, California

High Tech High | MiddlePoint Loma - San Diego, California

educationarchitecture of

PROFILE | HIGH TECH HIGHSan Diego, California

High Tech High | Chula VistaChula Vista - San Diego County, California

educationarchitecture of

PROFILE | HIGH TECH HIGHSan Diego, California

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