Large School Conversions

Across the country, large comprehensive schools are redesigning into multiple small schools based on the known benefits of small schools.

Educators in these schools are discovering however, that there are few examples of successful conversion schools from which to learn.

The Small Schools Project has collected a number of relevant articles about the conversion process, examples of conversion request for proposals, and lessons learned about conversions.

We have also developed a number of resources, listed below, to assist schools in their conversion work.

Organizing and Designing Small Schools through Conversions of Large Comprehensive Schools

We often think of large comprehensive high schools as the natural and sensible way of organizing places of learning for adolescents. Certainly they predominate the landscape, and, certainly, they are one way to organize students for learning. This article discusses other options, such as redesigning large schools into small ones, and important design considerations.

Thinking about Conversions

This article highlights nine points to remember when redesigning a large, comprehensive high school into multiple small schools.
The accompanying PowerPoint provides information for conversion schools on issues such as teacher-student work relationships, how to divide a school with 1500 students, and the importance of engaging parents and the community.

Questions to Consider about Conversions of Large High Schools

This is a list of several questions to consider about the conversion process of large high schools.

Small on Purpose: Staging Redesign + Conversions

This PowerPoint offers large comprehensive high schools that are converting into multiple small schools a variety of staging options to consider as they begin to implement their new schools.

You can also view other resources on starting a small school and our publications, which describe the efforts of many Washington State high schools working to convert to small schools and what we are learning from them.

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