Business casual dress code

Builds buy-in to seriousness of school and connection to the future. Students are part of downtown community and prepared to go out on internships and site visits. 

Laptops used as routine learning tool 

Largely paperless environment helps students stay organized and prepares them for the modern workplace. Wireless internet allows fast access to information resources, assignments, and grades. 

Students working in groups 

Project-based learning builds planning, teamwork, and communication skills highly valued by employers. 

Teacher planning time and common work space 

Faculty teach 2 of 3 blocks, leaving them 2.5 hours during the school day for planning, curriculum development, and team collaboration. Teacher professionalism and collaboration is fostered by grade level office space rather than leaving teachers isolated in their classrooms. 

Grade level community by floor 

All grade level classes are on a single floor and students and teachers stay together for four years. This facilitates ownership of the floor and close relationships. 

Interdisciplinary subject blocks 

Linked subjects (for example, English and Social Studies) are team-taught in 2 hour blocks, allowing interdisciplinary exploration of concepts, flexible student grouping, and time for students to engage in project based work. 

Mixed ability classes 

There is no academic tracking at City High. Students of all entering ability levels experience the same rigorous, standards-based curriculum with modifications to access content at various levels.