High School Transformation

The Future is High School

A Strategy for State Leaders to Accelerate Learning, Work, and American Renewal

High school is where America’s future takes shape. Today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators, problem solvers, and leaders—but our schools are still rooted in a century-old model built for the industrial age. As automation and AI transform the job market, too many students leave high school unprepared for what comes next.

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Only 45% of students say they feel prepared for the future.

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Only 45% of students say they feel prepared for the future.

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Only 45% of students say they feel prepared for the future.

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60% of secondary teachers report lack of student interest in learning as a major challenge.

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60% of secondary teachers report lack of student interest in learning as a major challenge.

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60% of secondary teachers report lack of student interest in learning as a major challenge.

The 10 state policy actions below build upon XQ’s work with communities to implement high school redesign; decades of research in the science of learning; and insights from educators, school administrators, and district and state partners. They’re organized around three foundations of educational excellence: clear goals, powerful learning experiences, and measures that truly matter.

Future-Focused Learning Goals

Our goals for what students should know and be able to do must evolve to reflect the realities of today’s workforce and world. This means integrating durable competencies with traditional academic state standards to create a broad and rigorous set of learner outcomes, and then directing efforts systemwide toward their achievement.

Powerful Learning Experiences

In transformed high schools, learning is high interest, project-based, authentic, rigorous, expansive in time and space, and integrates multiple dimensions of learning—academic, cognitive, and durable.

Measures That Matter

The most important measure of high school transformation is the impact it has on students’ lives.This means using a variety of measures to track progress, including academic achievement, college and career readiness, and social and emotional development.

Future-Focused Learning Goals

Powerful Learning Experiences

Measures That Matter

Future-Focused Learning Goals

Powerful Learning Experiences

Measures That Matter