High School

Education news, analysis, and opinion about schools typically serving 9th to 12th grades and the students who attend them

Series

Image of students on different future paths.
The High School Handoff
An ongoing series examines how high school is evolving to reflect changing pathways to degrees, credentials, and the workforce.
View Series
Illustration of the back of a male student against a back drop of a hand-drawn laptop with a spring like curly line coming from the laptop to another pop out screen that shows the words "Advance"
Illustration by Gina Tomko/Education Week + Getty
Student Achievement Can Schools Nudge Students to Take More Advanced Courses?
Researchers found promising results when schools "nudged" students to take more challenging courses.
Evie Blad, September 22, 2026
•
5 min read
September 15, 2026 Browne Middle School 102
Eighth graders work on math problems in a dual language class taught primarily in English at Joseph A. Browne Middle School in Chelsea, Mass. on Sept. 15, 2026. About a third of the students at the middle school are classified as English learners.
Sophie Park for Education Week
English Learners How Schools Can Better Support Older English Learners
Strategies exist to help students who carry the English-learner label beyond elementary school.
Ileana Najarro, September 21, 2026
•
8 min read
Mitchell High math teacher James Dye leads a Florida Advanced Course and Test (FACT) College Algebra course in September. The State Board of Education is set to update its rules so students can earn in-state college credit for successfully completing FACT courses in Trinity, Florida on September 09, 2025.
Math teacher James Dye leads a Florida Advanced Course and Test (FACT) college-level algebra course on Sept. 9, 2025, at Mitchell high school in Trinity, Fla. Some researchers suggest it is better to introduce students to academically rigorous courses far earlier than 11th or 12th grade.
Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via TNS
College & Workforce Readiness The Case for Expanding Access to Advanced Courses Before High School
Academic acceleration for 11th and 12th graders had little effect on college course choices.
Evie Blad, September 17, 2026
•
3 min read
English teacher Jessica Gallo assists students during a writing exercise in her classroom at Dekaney High School in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
English teacher Jessica Gallo assists students during a writing exercise in her classroom at Dekaney High School in Houston, on Sept. 16, 2025. Newcomer immigrant students in high school with low English-proficiency face multiple barriers schools can address.
Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
English Learners Immigrant Students Face Big Barriers to Success in High School
A new study highlights how schools in Massachusetts serve newly arrived immigrants in high school.
Ileana Najarro, August 31, 2026
•
4 min read
Students learn Arabic words while playing with bilingual flash cards during Modern Arabic 1 class at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Ill., on April 17, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Students learn Arabic words while playing with bilingual flash cards during Modern Arabic 1 class at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Ill., on April 17, 2026. Many bilingual education programs do not extend beyond elementary school to secondary grades, a new analysis shows.
Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty
English Learners Why Bilingual Education in High School is Hard to Find
A new report highlights the challenges and solutions to offering bilingual education in high school.
Ileana Najarro, August 28, 2026
•
4 min read
Jermaine Dawson, the CEO of the Baltimore City Public Schools, helps student Shane Campbell with math at Waverly Elementary/Middle School on July 1, 2026. Photo by Ryan Bowie/The Baltimore Sun via TNS.
Jermaine Dawson, CEO of the Baltimore City public schools, helps student Shane Campbell with math at Waverly Elementary/Middle School. Dawson was a former math teacher before becoming the school district CEO. There's growing awareness of older students' struggles with basic math skills.
Ryan Bowie/Baltimore Sun via TNS
Mathematics Middle and High School Students' Struggles in Math: 4 Key Takeaways
Schools face a challenge in making the subject seem relevant to teenagers.
Sean Cavanagh, August 17, 2026
•
5 min read
121225 Spokane KD 61
Emily Torres speaks with her creative writing students at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Wash., on Dec. 4, 2025. Students in the class have experienced significant trauma, mental health challenges, or both.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Q&A 'The Most Authentic English Class I've Ever Taught'
Emily Torres said the class has been the most meaningful teaching experience of her career.
Alyson Klein, June 15, 2026
•
3 min read
121225 Spokane KD 58
Emily Torres teaches a creative writing class at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Wash., on Dec. 4, 2025. All the students in the class have experienced significant trauma, mental health challenges, or both.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Inside a School Where Creative Writing Helps Teens Cope With Trauma
Students in a class taught by Emily Torres have significant trauma, mental health challenges, or both.
Alyson Klein, June 15, 2026
•
15 min read
Thu., June 11, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar From Coursework to Careers: Expanding Work-Based Learning and Industry Credentials in CTE
Expand work-based learning and industry credentials in CTE to connect classroom learning with real careers and prepare students for future success.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
Register
On Oct. 22, 2024 , Jeff Simon, center, works with math students Gabriel Raposo, right, and Luka Esquer, left, using online AI tools to check their algebra work at Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad.
Jeff Simon, center, works with math students using online AI tools to check their algebra work at Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, Calif. on Oct. 22, 2024. EdWeek Research Center data show that fractions and fluency in basic operations are among the areas that most confuse middle and high school students.
Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via TNS
Mathematics From Our Research Center Here Are the Math Concepts That Trip Up Middle and High School Students
An EdWeek Research Center survey asked educators about the biggest challenges they see in the subject.
Sean Cavanagh, June 11, 2026
•
1 min read
20260507 ReverseCareerFair EdWeek R5B 5725
Dustin Chambers for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness Video How a "Reverse Career Fair" Can Launch High Schoolers Into the Real World
It flips the traditional model and allows students to set up booths to display their talents to employers.
June 9, 2026
•
1 min read
Vision, goal conquering, on the path to accomplishment, with xxx flags and Doodle math. Algebra and geometry school equation and graphs, hand drawn physics science formulas in the background
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock/Getty Images
Mathematics Opinion How to Overhaul High School Math Pathways (and Why You Should)
What should count for math credit? This state ed. commissioner explains why the answer matters.
Angélica Infante-Green, June 3, 2026
•
5 min read
ANNANDALE, VA - APRIL 08: English learners are taught the subject, algebra one with ESOL teacher , Anna Kyle, (right)shown here with tenth grader Thinh Vuong Phung and Student teacher Kim Ngo (left) at Annandale High School on April 08, 2026 in Annandale, Virginia. Various approaches include group work, community building, and academic literacy. Materials are created collaboratively, including digital activities (e.g. Kahoot) with writing and speaking assessments. The team tracks progress using standards-based grading and a running spreadsheet. Teachers emphasize vocabulary skills, interactive notebooks, and scaffolds to support language learners. The success of multilingual learners is monitored through test data and reassessments, ensuring students understand their mastery of standards. 
English learners are taught Algebra I by an ESOL teacher at Annandale High School on April 8, 2026 in Annandale, Virginia. English learners in middle and high school are at different places in their language development, which can undermine their confidence and engagement in the subject.
Marvin Joseph for Education Week
English Learners Making the "Puzzles" of Math Lessons Less Confusing for English Learners
Modeling, pre-teaching, and effective use of visuals can help students, speakers at an EdWeek forum said.
Jennifer Vilcarino, May 26, 2026
•
4 min read
Thu., May 21, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Mathematics K-12 Essentials Forum Middle and High School Math: How to Get Struggling Learners on Track
Join this free virtual event to uncover the nature of students’ weaknesses in secondary-level math and find a path forward.
Register
May 21, 2026