High Schools That Work

High Schools That Work

Improving Achievement is About Focus and Completing the Right Courses

By Gene Bottoms and Caro Feagin

In 2000 and 2001, an audit was conducted on the course-taking patterns of 4,244 graduating seniors from 51 rural high schools in 12 states. This study provided data on the achievement gaps between students who complete the HSTW-recommended curriculum and those who do not; between the top 25 percent of the participating schools and the rest of the participating schools; and among the students in the five course-taking paths. Schools can use the methodology described in this document as a model to analyze their students' course-taking patterns and to determine which curriculum paths lead to higher achievement.

Keywords: performance level, academic core, career concentration

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