Success Stories
How One Innovative School Network Uses Student Perception Data for Continuous Improvement
Overview
High Tech High (HTH) is a network of twelve schools in San Diego County. All of these schools serve a diverse, lottery-selected student population. HTH is differentiated in its design principles of personalization, adult world connection, common intellectual mission, and teacher as designer. For more information about High Tech High, please visit hightechhigh.org.
Since 2011, HTH has used YouthTruth to gather student feedback to inform instructional, leadership and school model changes. For the first two years of the partnership, High Tech High surveyed high school students about their overall school experience—from students’ engagement in school and relationships, to their perceptions of school culture and college and career readiness. As YouthTruth developed validated, age-appropriate surveys for lower grades, High Tech High expanded survey participation to middle school students.
High Tech High also deepened its understanding of students’ classroom experience by incorporating YouthTruth’s Feedback for Teachers survey in 2013. This provides insights to inform teacher practice and continued professional development. HTH administers the survey annually, and has made YouthTruth an integral part of their commitment to improvement.