High Tech High

Amber Raskin, Kim Adam and I took a trip down to High Tech High to see their amazing facility.  High Tech High is a public charter school with both an great campus and some really unique opportunities for its learners.

The school reminded me of the feel you get while walking around Pixar Studios or Disney Toon Studios.  I really like the openness and common areas.  Notice that there is no fence around the High School.  The brown building in the distance is a business center with restraunts.

I remember Ed Catmull once saying that "you can make some pretty good movies in a warehouse".  I think this site shows what you'd see if you built a school inside a warehouse. Notice the open ceiling area.  The ceiling windows let in a lot of light which travels around due to lots of glass walls.

Glass was used everywhere. You could see into every classroom.

Notice that the desks face each other. This is similar to what we do at SCVi.

Another interesting thing about the school is all the artwork on the walls. I think much of the displayed artwork are things that would have been censored in other schools.  There is even artwork in the bathrooms.

Artwork was everywhere.  There were many different styles and types. It was as much an art museum as a school. You could really tell that the learners had a lot of great opportunities to try different things.

Another interesting thing was the "Wireless Innovation Lab" where students were learning electronics and circuits.

This appeared to be a cigarette machine which was re-purposed to sell student art.

Glass display cases as well.

Overall, High Tech High is a very inspiring place to visit. I can imagine that it's also a wonderful place to learn.  To see more of High Tech High, you can check out my Facebook Album.