Ten Traits of Highly Effective Schools

Adapted from Elaine McEwan's excellent book, here's a brief overview of the ten traits. Laboring separately, Parents, Teachers and Administrators cannot change every one of them, but together we can use this blueprint to improve any school.

The People The right kind of people breathe life into the bricks and books. The principal, teachers, students, and parents interact with each other to create the synergy that is a successful school.

1. The principal is a strong instructional leader. She sets the school agenda, communicates the mission of the school, determines what gets measured and noticed, and distributes the resources.

2. The teachers are well-trained, motivated and know their subject matter. They respect their students and have high expectations for their achievement, and teach using methods that produce results.

3. The students are motivated, disciplined, eager to learn, self-directed, and respectful of their peers, their teachers, and their parents.

4. The parents are involved in the life of the school in real and important ways.

The Learning What should be taught? (standards) What materials and methods will be used to teach the content? (curriculum) How will the learning be measured? (achievement)

5. The school's standards are academically focused, rigorous, comprehensive, clear, and measurable. They call for students to learn material and demonstrate skills that grow increasingly more difficult as they progress through school.

6. The school has a solid academic curriculum (the teaching materials and methods that are used in the classroom) that is focused on student learning.

7. Academic achievement and educational excellence are top priorities. The successful school pushes students to achieve, accepts no excuses, and has requirements and expectations for all students.

The Climate and Culture The culture is the way that things are done in the school, and the climate is the way people feel about the culture. These include the feelings, beliefs, and values of the school.

8. The school's mission is academically focused.

9. A network of communication channels keeps information flowing back and forth between and among principal, teachers, students, and parents.

10. There is agreement about what constitutes acceptable behavior by staff, students, and parents.

Adapted from Ten Traits of Highly Successful Schools, by Elaine K. McEwan, ©1999