This two-part ASCD SmartBrief Special Report explores the problems that face high schools and delves into some possible solutions.

Part 1 reviews the challenges facing high schools, outlined successful methods of instruction and assessment and surveyed perspectives on solving the problem.

Some 7,000 high-school students drop out of school every day, at a cost to society of $209,000 per student over their lifetimes. Between 20% and 42% of graduates require some remedial coursework before moving on to college-level work, and 60% of manufacturers say recent entry-level hires were unprepared for the work they were hired to do. The question facing educators and business leaders is: What can be done to reverse this trend?

Part 2 reviews practices used by successful schools to make high school more engaging and more effective and also considers the role policymakers and educators play in reform.