How to create a school where exciting, rigorous teaching and learning happens—by design.
The XQ Design Principles can guide any school community that’s ready to rethink high school so all students achieve the XQ Learner Outcomes. These research-backed principles are foundational to the XQ school design process, which has been used by teams across the country to redesign their existing schools or design new ones.
Strong mission and culture—A clear set of school values that unify stakeholders around a common purpose.
Meaningful, engaged learning—Interdisciplinary and engaging strategies that help students develop content knowledge and complex skills.
Caring, trusting relationships—Personal connections between students and adults, and between students and their peers, to help them develop holistically.
Youth voice and choice—Authentic, ample opportunities for students to build autonomy, develop agency, and develop their identities.
Smart use of time, space, and tech—Nontraditional approaches to when, where, and how students learn.
Community partnerships—Connections that open up real-world learning opportunities for students to gain valuable experiences that help them envision life beyond high school.
