Like many school districts, this particular high school, believes in providing
students with a world-class rigorous education that allows them to become
knowledgeable, ethical, self-directed life-long learners for the 21 st century. In order to
help answer research question one in how the school’s vision is reflecting the critical
skills of the 21 st century, the researcher examined the school’s vision statement and belief
statements. The district’s vision statement clearly stated the, “school community will
nurture and inspire students’ desire for knowledge and provide the foundation for them to
be successful in a global society…” Not only has the school district been nationally
recognized as an award winning Blue Ribbon school district, but its high school was also
named as a New American High School by the U.S. Department of Education in 1999.
The national award was based on the following criteria: academic rigor, advanced
placement courses, connections with the real world or post-secondary schools and
engaging at-risk students for success. This tedious selection process resulted in visitations
to the high school to evaluate the school’s execution in the criteria. In 2008, the high
school also received a silver medal rank by U.S. News and World Report, Best High
Schools across the county. In 2003, Newsweek magazine named the high school as one of
the nation’s top high schools. This type of recognition is based on the school serving all
students while producing measurable student outcomes for success. The school district
shares the belief that the educational programs of the high school should serve the needs
of all students, and not just college bound scholars. This is evident by the district
applying for and receiving the Classrooms for the Future Grant that allows the high
school’s educational initiatives to focus on providing a technology rich, student centered
learning community that exhibits high academic excellence with collaborative support.