Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High Charter School
Encyclopedia
Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High Charter School, often referred to as High Tech High (HTH), is a public charter
high school in :San Diego, California. The school is now one of several schools operated under the High Tech High charter schools
umbrella organization.
Soon thereafter, long time educator Larry Rosenstock
was asked to present to this group about different possible governance structures for the school. He then became the founding principal of the school. Rosenstock is now the C.E.O. of the network of schools.
The school was founded in September 2000 with 200 students and currently educates 527 students.
High Tech High occupies a building on the former Navy Training Center in the Point Loma area, which is now known as Liberty Station
. The school states that it has an emphasis on project-based learning
(most learning comes from multi-subject projects, rather than the more traditional approach, where teachers talk and students listen), real-world connection, personalization, and having a common intellectual mission (no ability grouping). Together with several of the other HTH schools, the school is called the "High Tech High Village
", which most students simply call "The Village".
”, which means that students are given a project which involves working independently or in groups and doing research to complete it. Some classes have projects where grades from different subjects will be all part of the same project.
Projects the students have worked on include designing a human-powered submarine, genetic manipulation, designing a water treatment plant, and a book on the Harlem Renaissance
.
All students complete internships in the junior year. These internships are currently a 3 week immersion experience working full-time at various places such as website companies, biotech firms, non profits, and other schools.
founder Irwin Jacobs
. Jacobs also donated almost 9 million dollars in building space for 3 of the schools in the village.
Current team information, rosters and statistics can be found at Athletic.net.
Archived results and information can be found at San Diego Track Magazine.
(CA), Tom Ridge
(PA), Bill Owens (CO), and Senator Joe Lieberman
, in its first year alone. Other visitors include Peter Yarrow
, Arnold Schwarzenegger
, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
, Eli Broad
, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, and Bill Richardson. On February 15, 2006, Bill Gates
and Oprah Winfrey
made an appearance on their education tour.
The central High Tech High Learning organization (with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) has since opened several middle schools and high schools using the original HTH model:
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
high school in :San Diego, California. The school is now one of several schools operated under the High Tech High charter schools
High Tech High charter schools
High Tech High is a San Diego, California-based school-development organization that includes a network of charter schools, a teacher certification program, and a graduate school of education....
umbrella organization.
History
Beginning in 1998, forty public and corporate partners, led by current board chair Gary Jacobs, began meeting to discuss the current state of education in San Diego. Faced with a shortage of workers for the locally strong high tech and biotech industries, the group wondered why the local school system wasn't better able to produce more qualified workers. Having given money to the school district in the past and questioning the return on that investment, these local entrepreneurs decided to open a new high school and christened it High Tech High.Soon thereafter, long time educator Larry Rosenstock
Larry Rosenstock
Larry Rosenstock was the director from 1996-1997 of the New Urban High School Project, an effort funded by the U.S. Department of Education to find and describe new models for urban high schools. Rosenstock and his team created three design principles that seemed to be common in the successful...
was asked to present to this group about different possible governance structures for the school. He then became the founding principal of the school. Rosenstock is now the C.E.O. of the network of schools.
The school was founded in September 2000 with 200 students and currently educates 527 students.
High Tech High occupies a building on the former Navy Training Center in the Point Loma area, which is now known as Liberty Station
Liberty Station
Liberty Station is a project that involves the conversion of San Diego, California's former Naval Training Center into a mixed-use community that includes several distinct districts...
. The school states that it has an emphasis on project-based learning
Project-based learning
Project-based learning, or PBL, is the use of in-depth and rigorous classroom projects to facilitate learning and assess student competence . Students use technology and inquiry to respond to a complex issue, problem or challenge...
(most learning comes from multi-subject projects, rather than the more traditional approach, where teachers talk and students listen), real-world connection, personalization, and having a common intellectual mission (no ability grouping). Together with several of the other HTH schools, the school is called the "High Tech High Village
High Tech High Village
The High Tech High Village is a group of six High Tech High charter schools in San Diego, California. All of these schools together are called the "High Tech High Village". Most students that go to these schools simply call it "The Village" or "High Tech Village"...
", which most students simply call "The Village".
Methodology
At the High Tech High schools, the method of teaching is based on “project-based learningProject-based learning
Project-based learning, or PBL, is the use of in-depth and rigorous classroom projects to facilitate learning and assess student competence . Students use technology and inquiry to respond to a complex issue, problem or challenge...
”, which means that students are given a project which involves working independently or in groups and doing research to complete it. Some classes have projects where grades from different subjects will be all part of the same project.
Projects the students have worked on include designing a human-powered submarine, genetic manipulation, designing a water treatment plant, and a book on the Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
.
All students complete internships in the junior year. These internships are currently a 3 week immersion experience working full-time at various places such as website companies, biotech firms, non profits, and other schools.
Financing
The schools are primarily publicly funded. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed a one time gift of $1000 per student when the school opened and has pledged millions of dollars to build more schools following the model over the next four years. Some are already in operation. Financial support to develop the original HTH also came from Gary Jacobs, son of QualcommQualcomm
Qualcomm is an American global telecommunication corporation that designs, manufactures and markets digital wireless telecommunications products and services based on its code division multiple access technology and other technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA...
founder Irwin Jacobs
Irwin Jacobs
Irwin Jacobs may refer to:*Irwin M. Jacobs, chairman and former chief executive officer of Qualcomm*Irwin L. Jacobs, Minneapolis-based investor and chairman of Genmar Holdings...
. Jacobs also donated almost 9 million dollars in building space for 3 of the schools in the village.
FIRST Robotics (The Holy Cows)
The school is home to one of twenty-two *FIRST Robotics Competition teams in San Diego County. The school's team, named The Holy Cows is a nationally recognized team. In 2009 The Holy Cows won the highest regional award a team can win, the Regional Chairmans Award. Two of the team's mentors have won Woodie Flowers Finalist Awards, the highest personal recognition in FIRST. In their five year history 90% of the team's alumni have gone on to pursue STEM degrees at such schools as Olin, UC Berkely, Harvey Mudd and Rochester Institute of Technology.Cross country
The High Tech High cross country team known as the Storm competes in San Diego CIF sanctioned meets and invitationals. They are the 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Frontier League champions.Current team information, rosters and statistics can be found at Athletic.net.
Archived results and information can be found at San Diego Track Magazine.
Water Polo
Although the school has minimal funding for athletics, a water polo team was started in 2009.Men's Soccer
The men's soccer is one of High Tech High's most decorated sports, competing in the Frontier League and winning this league in 2008, 2009, 2010 and making appearances in CIF playoffs all three years. They have yet to make it past the first round.Ultimate Frisbee
Despite not being officially affiliated or financed by the HTH system, the High Tech High Ultimate Frisbee team has become a regional powerhouse. During the 2008–09 season, the team was undefeated and went on to win the Aztec Bowl, the Southern California Regional Tournament, and the Slopfest VII Tournament held in Northern California. However, many of the team's most experienced players graduated in 2009, and the 2009–10 team worked hard to replace them. The team folded with the rest of the 2008–2009 players graduating after the 2009–2010 season.Men's Rugby
Started in 2010, a men's rugby team competes and has both a Junior Varsity and Vasity team.Results
The program has had over 600 visitors, including US state Governors Gray DavisGray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
(CA), Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...
(PA), Bill Owens (CO), and Senator Joe Lieberman
Joe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
, in its first year alone. Other visitors include Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote one of the group's most famous songs, "Puff, the Magic Dragon"...
, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend , is an American attorney who was the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003. She ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Maryland in 2002. In 2010 she became the chair of the non-profit American Bridge, an organization that will raise funds for Democratic...
, Eli Broad
Eli Broad
Eli Broad is an American businessman from Detroit, Michigan who resides in Los Angeles, California.-Life and career:An only child, Broad was born in the Bronx to Lithuanian Jewish immigrant parents. His father was a housepainter, his mother was a dressmaker. His family moved to Detroit when he...
, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, and Bill Richardson. On February 15, 2006, Bill Gates
Bill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
and Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
made an appearance on their education tour.
The central High Tech High Learning organization (with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) has since opened several middle schools and high schools using the original HTH model:
- New Bedford Global Learning Charter School, New Bedford, MassachusettsNew Bedford, MassachusettsNew Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
- High Tech High Bayshore, Redwood City, CaliforniaRedwood City, CaliforniaRedwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
- New Urban High SchoolNew Urban High SchoolNew Urban High School is a public charter school located in Milwaukie, Oregon, United States.-History:NUHS was founded in 2003, financed by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation...
, Clackamas, OregonClackamas, OregonClackamas was a census-designated place in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,177 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Portland, Oregon.It is the location of Camp Withycombe, a military base... - Mirta Ramirez Computer Science Charter School, Chicago, Illinois
- City High School, Tucson, ArizonaTucson, ArizonaTucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
- Explorer Elementary Charter SchoolExplorer Elementary Charter SchoolExplorer Elementary Charter School is an independent public school, founded in 2000, which serves 340 children in grades K-5 who are enrolled by lottery from throughout the San Diego, California area...
San Diego - High Tech High InternationalHigh Tech High InternationalHigh Tech High International, often referred to as HTHI, is a public charter high school in San Diego, California. It is the third school in a program that attempts to change the way most students in the United States and countries with similar schools are taught...
San Diego - High Tech High Media ArtsHigh Tech High Media ArtsHigh Tech High Media Arts, often referred to as HTHMA, is a public charter high school in San Diego, California. It is the fourth school in the High Tech High charter schools coalition of schools that attempts to change the way most students in the United States and countries with similar schools...
San Diego - High Tech MiddleHigh Tech Middle SchoolHigh Tech Middle, often abbreviated as HTM, is a public charter middle school in San Diego, California. High Tech Middle was founded by High Tech High...
San Diego - High Tech Middle Media Arts San Diego
- High Tech Los Angeles Los Angeles
- High Tech High North CountyHigh Tech High North CountyHigh Tech High North County is a charter school located in San Marcos, California. It is a part of the High Tech High organization. Opened in 2007 with an initial class of 150 freshmen. Each year there has been a new class added. In the 2008-2009 school year it was sophomores, in the 2009-2010...
San Marcos, CaliforniaSan Marcos, CaliforniaSan Marcos is a suburb of San Diego in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 83,781. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos...