Introduction

1/12/04, In the news — Big school, big gains, Southridge High School in Beaverton has emerged as one of only a handful of public high schools in the Northwest that work for nearly every student. (link will open in external browser window)

Southridge High School opened in the fall of 1999 in Beaverton, Oregon, a suburb of the Portland metropolitan area that has grown rapidly as technology-based companies have settled there. From its architecture to its modes of communication, the school is designed to promote learning, a sense of community, and shared decisionmaking. This emphasis on relationships—among school staff members, students, parents, and community members—was central to the design and planning of the new high school, a project led by Principal Sarah Boly.

The commons gathering area at Southridge High School is one of the focal points around which students form a sense of community.

"You begin designing a school around your core values and beliefs about learning," says Boly, "and not around structures such as schedules and departments."

The school sought prospective employees who shared this commitment and were willing to tolerate ambiguity as practices were developed and implemented in the school's first years of operation. All employees were hired through a review and screening process involving students, parents, and community members.

In 2001, Southridge received a Smaller Learning Communities Implementation Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This helped the school implement its vision for student learning.