High Schools That Work is a whole-school, research and assessment-based reform effort for grades 9 through 12 established in 1987 by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).

This initiative offers a framework of goals, key practices, and key conditions for accelerating student learning and raising standards.  Its recommended actions give direction as schools work to improve both academic and career education.  According to An Educators’ Guide to School Wide Reform that was issued by the Washington-based American Institute for Research, HSTW is one of only three popular school reform models with strong evidence supporting its efficacy in improving student achievement.

More than 1,100 schools or systems in the consortium of states function as HSTW sites.  Missouri joined the HSTW consortium in February 2001, because it connects well with state efforts to upgrade graduation requirements.  HSTW, which integrates academic and career education areas, can serve as one of the multiple pathways by which students can meet state standards.  Thirty eight sites in Missouri currently receive funding from the Division of Career Education for HSTW implementation:  

• Ava High School,
• Belle High School,
• Bismarck High School,
• Bunker High School,
• Carrollton High School,
• Caruthersville High School,
• Cassville High School,
• East Newton High School,
• Farmington High School,
• Fatima High School,
• Fredericktown High School,
• Hazelwood-East High School,
• Hazelwood-Central High School,
• Hazelwood-West High School,
• Hickman Mills High School*,
• Holden High School,
• Jackson High School,
• Kennett High School,
• Lee’s Summit High School*,
• Lee’s Summit-West High School,
• Monett High School,
• Odessa High School,
• Perryville High School,
• Pike/Lincoln Technical Center,
• Pleasant Hill High School,
• Poplar Bluff High School,
• Potosi High School,
• Raymore-Peculiar High School,
• Ruskin High School*,
• Seneca High School,
• Southwest High School,
• Sullivan High School,
• Tipton High School,
• Truman High School,
• Webb City High School,
• West County High School,
• William Chrisman High School, and
• Winfield High School.

 

Central High School (Park Hills, MO), Lee’s Summit-North High School, Mehlville High School, North County Technical High School, South County Technical High School, and Willow Springs High School have each completed the funding cycle for HSTW implementation but remain actively engaged in the program network.

HSTW sites noted above with an asterisk are partnered with a middle school implementing the SREB-based initiative, Making Middle Grades Work (MMGW).  Missouri’s three funded pilot MMGW sites are:

• Ervin Middle School (Hickman Mills C-1 School District; partnered with Hickman Mills High School)
• Pleasant Lea Middle School (Lee’s Summit R-VII School District; partnered with Lee’s Summit High School)
• Smith Hale Middle School (Hickman Mills C-1 School District; partnered with Ruskin High School)

Additionally, Technology Centers That Work (TCTW), a version of HSTW which has been tailored to better meet the needs of a shared-time career-technical school is being implemented at six area career centers.  The schools are:  Arcadia Valley Career Technology Center, Boonslick Technical Education Center, Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, Carthage Career Center, Perryville Area Career and Technology Center, and South Central Career Center.

In total for the 2008-2009 School Year, 53 Missouri schools are involved in the data-driven, effort-based school improvement programs of HSTW, TCTW, and MMGW.