About
Rethinking High School
XQ Institute is the nation's leading organization dedicated to rethinking high school.
About XQ
About XQ
XQ is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to reimagining the high school experience for every student. We started over a decade ago, partnering with communities to help realize their vision for high school success. Today, our footprint extends to nearly 200 sites—more than 50,000 students—across the country.
Our work has since expanded to include the development of tools that educators can use to transform how they teach, and policy support to foster the conditions for systemwide change.
About our methodolgy
About our methodolgy
To identify the 10 policy actions that would have the most transformative positive impact on high school, we asked some fundamental questions:
01
Which policies have stifled or spurred innovation in our XQ partner schools and districts?
02
Which policies create obstacles to the adoption of strategies like project-based learning?
03
Which policies present barriers to enabling students to earn credit for “anywhere, anytime” learning?
04
Which policies can create incentives for high school transformation or mitigate the challenges associated with implementation?
05
How can states help communities and educators adopt new, transformative high school models?
FAQ
FAQ
Q
What does a transformed high school actually look like?
A
There is no single blueprint. Schools are extensions of their communities and need to reflect local aspirations. We have an XQ school that is entirely project-based. In another, learning takes place in nine-week project cycles rather than year-long courses and daily class periods. Others emphasize rigorous work-based learning, equipping students with real world skills and credentials through internships, apprenticeships, and community partnerships. But while our schools reflect a range of different models, they have some key features in common. Research shows that young people learn best when certain conditions are in place. Working with educators, neuroscientists, and other experts, we’ve identified six design principles that, taken together, lay the foundation for learning. These are: strong mission and culture; meaningful, engaged learning; caring, trusting relationships; youth voice and choice; smart use of time, space, and tech; and community partnerships. These design principles are the throughline that connect all of our schools.
Q
How does XQ work with school leaders, educators, and district and state leaders?
A
A decade ago, we issued an open call to the nation to redesign high school. 10,000 people from all 50 states formed 700 teams to form an original cohort of 10 “Super Schools.” We worked hand-in-hand with these communities to realize their vision for high school success. Since then, we’ve expanded our work, moving from pockets of innovation to systemwide transformation. We’ve developed an expansive toolkit, in collaboration with educators and experts, that educators in any community can use to drive change—on their terms, at their pace. It includes best-in-class XQ competencies that work alongside existing standards; design principles for effective high schools; learning modules aligned to the XQ competencies; innovative math badging resources; and XQ Power Ups, professional project-based learning modules for current and aspiring educators. We also work with policymakers at the district and state levels to reshape education systems from the ground up—most recently, through the policy framework outlined in the Future is High School suite. Learn more about our tools for educators here.
Q
How can I share what's happening in my state?
A
We know that schools, communities, and states across the nation are taking action to transform high school learning and expand opportunities for students. We also know that we’ve only captured a small sliver of those efforts. So we invite you to share your feedback, insights, and stories with us here.
Q
How often will the data be updated?
A
We plan to update the report as states make progress, ideally on a biennial basis, every two years from this point on. The online platform will be updated regularly so users can track changes, explore new examples of progress, stay informed about state-level efforts to transform high schools, and access the latest resources. We hope this report is the start of an ongoing dialogue—because you know your states best.
Q
How did XQ determine where states stand relative to each policy action?
A
We reviewed state laws, regulations, and policy guidance to determine whether each state has implemented each of the 10 policy actions. We focused on publicly available information from official state sources and consulted with state leaders to confirm accuracy. Each policy action was evaluated based on whether a state has a clear and codified policy—not just a local program or anecdotal evidence. The data reflect analyses conducted between August 2024 and December 2025.
Q
Where can I see examples of these policies in action?
A
Visit the Policy Action pages to learn more about actions leading states are taking to realize each policy action.
Q
What makes these policy actions different from previous reforms?
A
The Future Is High School suite adds to the incredible work that so many organizations—Education Commission of the States, Excel in Ed, KnowledgeWorks, FullScale, among others—are doing in this space. Many of the policy actions in our report overlap with recommendations in other reports—and that' s a good thing. In order to make transformation a reality, we need to all be swimming in the same direction. At the same time, we bring a unique perspective. Our work with schools and districts across the country has shown that we can, and must, raise the bar for what policies designed to transform high school should do. Policy Action 1, for example, says it’s not enough to give schools flexibility from seat time requirements on a conditional or case-by-case basis. Instead, it calls for every district to give clear and explicit flexibility to award credit for learning, not seat time, without constraint or limitation. We’ve gone deep into what states have already done and provided tailored guidance for them to build on that progress, while establishing a vision for what’s next. This set of resources represents the most comprehensive analysis to date of the state policy landscape for supporting high school transformation.
Q
What does a transformed high school actually look like?
A
There is no single blueprint. Schools are extensions of their communities and need to reflect local aspirations. We have an XQ school that is entirely project-based. In another, learning takes place in nine-week project cycles rather than year-long courses and daily class periods. Others emphasize rigorous work-based learning, equipping students with real world skills and credentials through internships, apprenticeships, and community partnerships. But while our schools reflect a range of different models, they have some key features in common. Research shows that young people learn best when certain conditions are in place. Working with educators, neuroscientists, and other experts, we’ve identified six design principles that, taken together, lay the foundation for learning. These are: strong mission and culture; meaningful, engaged learning; caring, trusting relationships; youth voice and choice; smart use of time, space, and tech; and community partnerships. These design principles are the throughline that connect all of our schools.
Q
How does XQ work with school leaders, educators, and district and state leaders?
A
A decade ago, we issued an open call to the nation to redesign high school. 10,000 people from all 50 states formed 700 teams to form an original cohort of 10 “Super Schools.” We worked hand-in-hand with these communities to realize their vision for high school success. Since then, we’ve expanded our work, moving from pockets of innovation to systemwide transformation. We’ve developed an expansive toolkit, in collaboration with educators and experts, that educators in any community can use to drive change—on their terms, at their pace. It includes best-in-class XQ competencies that work alongside existing standards; design principles for effective high schools; learning modules aligned to the XQ competencies; innovative math badging resources; and XQ Power Ups, professional project-based learning modules for current and aspiring educators. We also work with policymakers at the district and state levels to reshape education systems from the ground up—most recently, through the policy framework outlined in the Future is High School suite. Learn more about our tools for educators here.
Q
How can I share what's happening in my state?
A
We know that schools, communities, and states across the nation are taking action to transform high school learning and expand opportunities for students. We also know that we’ve only captured a small sliver of those efforts. So we invite you to share your feedback, insights, and stories with us here.
Q
How often will the data be updated?
A
We plan to update the report as states make progress, ideally on a biennial basis, every two years from this point on. The online platform will be updated regularly so users can track changes, explore new examples of progress, stay informed about state-level efforts to transform high schools, and access the latest resources. We hope this report is the start of an ongoing dialogue—because you know your states best.
Q
How did XQ determine where states stand relative to each policy action?
A
We reviewed state laws, regulations, and policy guidance to determine whether each state has implemented each of the 10 policy actions. We focused on publicly available information from official state sources and consulted with state leaders to confirm accuracy. Each policy action was evaluated based on whether a state has a clear and codified policy—not just a local program or anecdotal evidence. The data reflect analyses conducted between August 2024 and December 2025.
Q
Where can I see examples of these policies in action?
A
Visit the Policy Action pages to learn more about actions leading states are taking to realize each policy action.
Q
What makes these policy actions different from previous reforms?
A
The Future Is High School suite adds to the incredible work that so many organizations—Education Commission of the States, Excel in Ed, KnowledgeWorks, FullScale, among others—are doing in this space. Many of the policy actions in our report overlap with recommendations in other reports—and that' s a good thing. In order to make transformation a reality, we need to all be swimming in the same direction. At the same time, we bring a unique perspective. Our work with schools and districts across the country has shown that we can, and must, raise the bar for what policies designed to transform high school should do. Policy Action 1, for example, says it’s not enough to give schools flexibility from seat time requirements on a conditional or case-by-case basis. Instead, it calls for every district to give clear and explicit flexibility to award credit for learning, not seat time, without constraint or limitation. We’ve gone deep into what states have already done and provided tailored guidance for them to build on that progress, while establishing a vision for what’s next. This set of resources represents the most comprehensive analysis to date of the state policy landscape for supporting high school transformation.