Meeting Five Critical Challenges of High School Reform: Lessons from Research on Three Reform Models

This report highlights three comprehensive high school reform initiatives evaluated by MDRC — Career Academies, First Things First, and Talent Development — and offers research-based lessons on five challenges schools face: creating a personalized and orderly learning environment; assisting students who enter high school with poor academic skills; improving instructional content and practice; preparing students for the world beyond high school, and stimulating change in overstressed high schools.