When I was in high school, I was your typical teen. I wasn’t thrilled about going to school, but I was a pretty good student. I made mostly A’s and B’s, didn’t give my teacher’s much grief and participated in a few school activities. I didn’t think much about it then, but as an adult looking back, I saw so many areas of my school and my education that could have been better. We had equipment that was just about duct taped together, teachers who were less than enthusiastic about being there and about 600 students who felt their teachers’ lackluster attitude. As a parent, I have fought hard for my kids to have better teachers, equipment, textbooks, and healthier lunches. For my son, who has autism, the system sucked him up and he is now home schooled. For my daughter, she is in a much better high school than I was, but it could be better. The teachers seem to be more invested than mine ever were, and with donations and some state funding, there is better equipment. I can’t help but stop and wonder how our kids’ education, their future (and ours) and our country would be if we were able to design the perfect school. You will see my perfect high school looks a lot like your community college. 
- Flex Time: Some kids do better early in the day, some in the afternoon and some even at night. If I were a teacher, I would sign up to teach night school. My perfect high school would have classes starting at staggered times like college classes do.
- Class Choices: Most high schools choose the curriculum based on the state requirements. The kids and parents have very little input in this decision. I would have their core classes be mandatory and then offer several classes based on the student’s strengths and interests. When I was in high school, the most exotic class I was offered was metal shop or home etc. Yawn! My school would offer classes in things like computer programming, fashion, yoga, home management or culinary arts.
- Equipment: In my school, students would be given an iPad and a laptop, to be paid off before their graduation date. For children in lower income brackets, the payments would be lowered or forgiven, depending on their circumstances. All of the kids’ textbooks would be online as well as their homework assignments. Parents would have a separate sign-in to access their children’s information as well as a communication portal that connects them with their child’s teachers. In the classroom, all of the equipment, from the overhead projector to the computer lab, would be state of the art. Any calculators and other special equipment would be provided at no extra cost to the kids. All school supplies would be supplied, so parents and teachers are not expected to pay for them out of their own pockets.
- Decor: The entire school would be decorated in a more comfortable design. Instead of desks, kids would have the option to sit in an arm chair, a sofa or even on a big pillow on the floor. Kids should be able to change positions to suit their comfort level. The cafeteria would be more intimate, with smaller tables and more comfortable chairs. The teacher’s lounge would have the same. There would even be nap pods available in 45 minute increments for everyone to recharge their batteries during a free period. The walls would be filled with beautiful works of art, many from the students, as well as motivational and inspirational quotes.
- Fitness: Kids have different comfort levels when it comes to fitness and health. I believe all kids should be active, but I feel they should have a choice in that activity. Students and teachers could choose from circuit and/or weight training, yoga, walking on a track or treadmill, aqua aerobics, and more.
- Food: The cafeteria would be designed to have more choices, with many of them being healthy. It would be more like a food court at the mall. Prices would be at a reduced rate and those who qualify, would have the free lunch program. All would use a debit card or pin number system. This keeps it anonymous if the kids have a free lunch or not. This was embarrassing for me when I was in school. We had to use brightly colored tear-away cards, so everyone knew we were the “free lunch kids.”
- Transportation: For kids who are able, their parents will drive them. For kids who live farther away, they would be transported in large vans or small buses. All would have seal belts and air bags. They would be built specially for the school system.
- Field Trips: Field trips would be about learning and based on the student’s career path. If they want to be a doctor or nurse, they would visit a local hospital and shadow for the day. If they wanted to be a vet, they would help out at the Humane Society or local animal hospital.
- All Are Welcome: No one would be turned away based on race, sexual orientation, economic level or religious preference.
So, what would happen if your dream school could become a reality? The XQ The Super School Project has their sights set on giving our kids the education they deserve, in an environment conducive to learning taught by teachers who care…a lot! They want to make our children feel more safe, confident, and better prepared to meet the challenges of our generation and for their future. The XQ: The Super School Project is an open call to re-imagine and design the next American high school. All over the country, teams from cities and towns will get together and take on this incredibly important work. By rethinking and building schools that deeply prepare our students for the rigorous challenges of college, jobs, and life, the lives of so many children could be changed.
Over the next few months, they will be looking over proposals and partner with the winning teams to build that perfect school. They are going to offer expert support as well as a $50 million budget, to support at least five schools over the next five years. These five schools will be turned into real Super Schools, based on the proposals. The competition is meant to spark creative ideas that will, in turn, lead to an excellence in education. Think of the possibility! Building 5 “dream schools” to re-think high school! XQ: The Super School Project is an open call to reimagine and design the next American high school. In towns and cities far and wide, teams will unite and take on this important work of our time: Rethinking and building schools that deeply prepare our students for the rigorous challenges of college, jobs, and life.
What would your school look like if money were no object?
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
October 12, 2015 at 12:26 pmI think less emphasis on classes we’re never going to use in real life would be great (trig comes to mind). How about a cl;ass on how to file taxes and balance a checkbook, which would actually be valuable instead.
Carmen Perez (listen2mama) says
October 12, 2015 at 1:48 pmThis is so true Robin, I feel kids are very unprepared for real life once they graduate even form college.
Jennifer says
October 12, 2015 at 12:31 pmThis is a great idea! I have never used half of what I learned in high school. In fact, I’ve forgotten most of it. I think an overall core curriculum should be in place with the ability to have more creativity with extra classes.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
October 12, 2015 at 12:34 pmI think high school should be much more like college and much less like it is now. There should be more options for classes that are real to what the kids will be facing out there.
Sarah Bailey says
October 12, 2015 at 1:01 pmThis is such an amazing idea, I’m not sure what my perfect school would be like – but it would be very different from the one I attended. x
Pam says
October 12, 2015 at 1:09 pmMore class choices would definitely be in my perfect high school. I remember having to take some incredibly boring electives!
Jeanette says
October 12, 2015 at 2:17 pmWhat a great idea! I agree that there should be more flexible with high school, we just have to make sure the kids actually do it. I know that when I was a kid I wasn’t sure what I should take. They defiantly need the guidance.
Lois Alter Mark says
October 12, 2015 at 2:30 pmWhat a great project! Education definitely needs an overhaul. Our kids need to be prepared for real life when they graduate high school.
Liz Mays says
October 12, 2015 at 2:45 pmI focusing on keeping the kids engaged and interested would help a lot. A lot of kids dread going to class each day and I don’t think that has to be the case.
Jeanine says
October 12, 2015 at 3:08 pmMore class choices – more ways to get kids engaged. More topics and classes that will be helpful in the real world.
Lisa says
October 12, 2015 at 4:13 pmI agree with you on the fitness choices and that would be a must at my school! I’d have a school where the students create their own classes, learn what they want, and mix in life skills for sure!
MJ L says
October 12, 2015 at 4:23 pmI love all of your ideas! I agree with each of them. Love the field trip idea!
Shell says
October 12, 2015 at 5:07 pmWhat an amazing idea! So many schools are limited by their budget. They’d like to make changes but just can’t realistically do them without help.
Liz Mays says
October 12, 2015 at 10:01 pmThat’s true! I’d love for the teachers and the administration to have the funds to implement some great new programs.
Rachelle says
October 12, 2015 at 6:07 pmThose are such awesome ideas! I love the thought of a later school day. I know I would have done better haha!
Marcie W. says
October 12, 2015 at 7:03 pmAsking me this in my thirties means I will respond a totally different way than I would have during my actual high school years. Now the perfect high school would involve peace, acceptance and teaching adult issues 101 like the importance of credit and how to write a proper resume.
Lady Lilith says
October 12, 2015 at 8:22 pmIt would be a place for children to learn more about the fields they are interested in and excel how they want.
Amber NElson says
October 12, 2015 at 9:10 pmDefinitely more class choices and a kinder student body!
Ourfamilyworld says
October 12, 2015 at 9:26 pmI love your list and we basically have the same ideas of a perfect school. I would love everyone to be welcome. We all deserve to attend school and learn.
Valerie says
October 12, 2015 at 10:04 pmI agree with all of this! I think so much could be done to make high schools better for kids.
Scarlet says
October 12, 2015 at 10:24 pmWow. That is so cool that they are helping make 5 dream schools!
Kristin Wheeler says
October 12, 2015 at 10:53 pmOh my! I would do high school different in so many ways!!! As a teacher I would have things to incorporate into a school as well. More real world experiences and learning from doing.
Carlee C says
October 12, 2015 at 10:55 pmA couple of the schools I went to were in bad disrepair. I think you need a healthy environment to start. Technology is so important as well with good educators that are properly compensated.
Amanda || Growing Up Madison says
October 12, 2015 at 11:12 pmI actually think my high school was perfect. I had a great time in High School and wouldn’t change it for the world.
Ann Bacciaglia says
October 13, 2015 at 12:01 amHaving a flexible time table would be great. Not all kids do well in the mornings. Letting student have more choice in what they are taking would help them stay interested in class.
Autumn @ Mamachallenge says
October 13, 2015 at 12:24 amI class that focused on how to do taxes and all that great grown up stuff would have been great to have in high school! A flexible time would be awesome as well!
Crystal says
October 13, 2015 at 12:40 amI went to an all-girl high school, which I was not thrilled about at the time. But I loved that I never felt like math and science weren’t for me. I am sure you could get the same feeling from schools with both genders, but it was a benefit for sure.
Penelope says
October 13, 2015 at 12:41 amI love the transition to making schools a place where students want to learn. It is for the benefit of the students to make learning conducive to them.
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says
October 13, 2015 at 1:41 amI’d want more personalized learning programs! All kids learn differently so it’s important to cater to their needs!
Toni says
October 13, 2015 at 8:14 amI think ‘perfect’ can have different definitions depending on what problems are being solved. One of our local high schools really carries a tone of academic excellence for students at all levels of achievement. They offer several tracks including two advanced learning paths as well as mix-and-match options. That seems pretty perfect to accommodate the needs of all students.
Wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says
October 13, 2015 at 11:01 amI love the idea of healthier options for food in schools. I don’t think that “healthy” should mean lacking in flavor, though, which is what I’ve found happens a good bit in the school. It’d be nice if there was a balance with healthy options that students actually want to eat because it tastes good!
Mykidsguide says
October 13, 2015 at 3:57 pmA perfect high school for me is when the kids are provided with all the resources they need to learn.
Krystal says
October 13, 2015 at 6:28 pmI was lucky that my high school was advanced in the since that we had Apple computers available for us and a salad bar we could use every day! I kind of miss how easy those times were 😉
Chasing Joy says
October 13, 2015 at 9:29 pmI agree with some of the other commentors. More classes offering life skillsl would be awesome.
Christie says
October 13, 2015 at 9:38 pmBringing back all of the arts and good meals would be a start! I like your ideas though, very thoughtful
Babita says
October 13, 2015 at 9:42 pmI went to high school in a different country. However, when I see my older one’s high school curriculum, I am filled with envy. I did not even have access to 1/10th of the programs and classes she has access to.
Lisa Rios says
October 14, 2015 at 8:29 amThese are some great ideas honestly. I too agree that level of education needs to improve a lot to make sure our kids could deal with the day to day issues of real life as well.
mycraftingworld says
February 22, 2017 at 7:15 amYou do have some great ideas. I would like to see the education money stay in the states. It does not have to go through the Feds where they take a share for themselves. The states need to have control over what kind of schools we have and make it down to county voices too.