Structuring for Success

After reviewing research findings, attending conferences, visiting schools, and reflecting on how to incorporate the community's goals in a school design, the planning team developed a framework of shared leadership that included strategies, ideas, and programs. Today, shared decisionmaking and mentoring relationships are essential features of life at Southridge. This is evident in nearly every aspect of its structure and practices, as described below.

Neighborhoods. Four neighborhoods bring together a team of teachers and school staff members with about 400 students. Students are assigned to each neighborhood in heterogeneous groups. Each neighborhood has its own identity and governance structure and functions as a "smaller learning community."

Advisory program. One teacher is assigned to advise 15 students during the course of their high school careers, ensuring personalized attention to students' needs.

Skytime. During a 45-minute period twice a week, students can choose to meet with teachers or counselors, complete laboratory activities, or work on projects.

Link Crew. A transition program for ninth graders in which 12th grade students serve as mentors.

Trimester schedule. A trimester schedule makes it possible to offer students more learning choices.

Depth of learning. A commitment to interdisciplinary team teaching and contextualized learning incorporates real-world problems, rigorous coursework, career development, and specialized support for all students.

Learning center. When a student needs extra academic help, he can be referred to the learning center by a counselor, teacher, or parent, or the student can refer himself. Students participate voluntarily. Through the service-learning program, upper-level students have proved to be effective peer tutors.

Service learning. A service-learning graduation requirement places students in real-world learning contexts with adult mentors.

Career academies. Career academies foster mentoring relationships between students and professionals in the community. As sophomores, students choose one to three career academy endorsements to follow in their junior and senior years from the areas of science; information technology; business leadership; engineering and design; social, human, and government services; health and related services; and arts and communication.

Global perspective and academic rigor. Southridge adopted the International Baccalaureate Program, which is open to all students and functions like AP courses, but addresses the community desire for a global perspective in learning.

Demonstrated student learning. Students show what they know and can do through such things as senior projects and portfolios.

Professional learning community. Critical Friends Groups, democratic decisionmaking processes, and networking with external professional groups, such as the Coalition of Essential Schools, help ensure all staff members, students, and parents develop and sustain a climate of continuous improvement.