This was a quick recap for Perkins+Will education designers after our tours at High Tech High in San Diego.

1. architecture of
PROFILE | HIGH TECH HIGH
education San Diego, California
High Tech High Schools What you see around High Tech High Schools
During the March Center of Excellence retreat in San Diego California, Open, agile lobbies that double, triple quadruple in purpose • Teamed
we had the privilege of visiting High Tech High and speaking with their classrooms • Mobile partitions • Shared, transparent office space •
01. Director of Facilities, Chris Geber, 02. CEO and visionary, Larry Distributed leadership • Windows everywhere • A grade level commons/
Rosenstock, and 03. Facilities Developer, Paul Dooley. Before diving project area • Murals • Power tools • UN conference room • Student
into the spatial features of the HTH family of schools, we began with a work displayed on walls and suspended from vaulting ceilings •
discussion of their pedagogical philosophy. Some highlights: Exposed duct work • Poured concrete floors • Engineering classrooms •
Garage doors • Real time energy monitors • Light • Exposed corridors •
High Tech High is known primarily for its use of Project Based Learning
Native plantings • Teachers collaborating • Students in groups •
and interdisciplinary approach. As such,
Homemade hydroponic planting systems • Online, digital portfolios •
The HTH model is based on four integrations. Integration of: Fluidity with the outdoors • LEED • Green screens • Projects in all
• Social classes and ability levels - HTH are lottery based schools that states • Philosophies made visible • Art
practice full inclusion. This is to honor the notion that schools are
democratic, public spaces. www.hightechhigh.org
• Head and hand - based on Deweyan philosophy that understanding
is best derived from doing.
• School and community - The school space is open to and involving of By Numbers
the community. Founded: 2000
• Secondary and post secondary - Education does not exist in a Students: 3500
vacuum, the work of school should bridge to the work of the world Employees: 300
and feature education. High Schools: 5
Middle Schools: 3
It also employs four educational design principles:
Elementary: 1 .02 .03
• Common intellectual mission .01
College Accept.: 100%
• Personalization
• Adult-world connection Four year Uni.: 80%
• Teacher as designer
Graduate School
Central to HTH aren’t high stakes tests, but rather Presentations of
Learning to display to peers, teachers, family, and community
of Education
on site: 1st k12coe
members your academic development. 2010

2. architecture of
PROFILE | HIGH TECH HIGH
education San Diego, California
High Tech High | Middle
Point Loma - San Diego, California

8. architecture of
PROFILE | HIGH TECH HIGH
education San Diego, California
High Tech High | Chula Vista
Chula Vista - San Diego County, California

21. architecture of
PROFILE | HIGH TECH HIGH
education San Diego, California
High Tech High | International
Point Loma - San Diego, California