Arlington's Social Structure

To realize key goals, planners designed the structure of the school into smaller learning communities, which would provide scaffolding for learning interactions. Central social units at Arlington are:

Houses. Approximately 140 ninth- and 10th-grade students are grouped in one of seven self-sufficient academic houses. Student groupings are based on random assignment, as well as individual student needs, interests, and abilities (a Pre-Advanced Placement House exists, for example). Students spend half of each day (two periods) in their house, and take their electives in the school at large. This arrangement affords students the advantages of a smaller learning community, as well as the curriculum offerings and all-school activities of a larger, comprehensive high school.

Shared offices enhance teaming at Arlington.

Thematic academies called "focus areas." Focus areas offer curriculum specialties to students in grades 11 and 12. Current focus areas are health and environment, information technology, EXPO III/ humanities, government policymaking, visual arts, family and consumer services, and business. The curriculum of each focus area blends "required" and "suggested" electives that students take to meet graduation requirements. Students take at least one focus area core course per quarter, for a total of eight core courses. A school-to-career component is integral to each focus area.

Teams of teachers. Houses and focus areas are led by interdisciplinary teams of teachers and other staff specialists. Teaching in teams fosters professional collaboration among staff members through a model of shared space, time, and students. Teachers report that teaching in teams enables them to know students both as learners and as individuals and, thus, to challenge and prepare students to reach higher standards. Teaching teams comprise six to seven staff members and include English, social studies, math, science, special education, a Title I specialist, and an educational assistant.