High Tech Middle School
High Tech Middle is a public charter school located in the High Tech High Village in San Diego, California. It is one of High Tech High’s original middle school programs, operated under the High Tech High charter school organization. High Tech Middle was founded in the fall of 2003. It serves approximately 300 students grades 6-8.[1]
Admissions
All of the High Tech High schools attempt to accommodate all students who apply to their schools. However, because the amount of admission applications exceeds the number of spaces available, a computerized lottery is utilized to determine each student's admission. Admissions are distributed according to the demographics of the region in which the a school is located to form a student body that reflects diversity. If a student is simply not guaranteed admission, they will be placed in a waiting list until a spot opens up for the student.[2]
Design principles and project-based learning
High Tech Middle's curriculum is based on the High Tech High principles of common intellectual mission, adult world connection, and personalization. Teachers design innovative and creative projects to engage all diverse groups of students, that will challenge them intellectually and help them develop skills and knowledge to prepare them for the real world.[3]
High Tech Middle as well as the High Tech organization, really emphasize projects as a core of their curriculum. High Tech Middle really believes that projects are an excellent method of teaching as it offers varying teaching styles for each student. Each project addresses essential questions that are relevant to the world beyond academics. Giving students the opportunity to not only learn skills that will benefit them in school but also benefit them in the adult world. By the end of each project, each student has created a product they are proud of and that they can show at High Tech Middle's yearly Exhibition Night.[4]
Exhibition night and presentations of learning
At the end of every school year, all students display the work they have done throughout the year to the community and their families in their yearly Exhibition Night. All students participate in this event as it is their work being shown to not only parents but the High Tech High community. Each class chooses a project they have done in the school year and each student must present the final product made and present it. [5]
At the end of every semester students conduct Presentations of Learning to demonstrate their growth and understanding through school projects. Presentations of Learning (POL's) are presented to each students teachers, parents and peers.[6]