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Revision as of 21:48, 9 February 2007 by 209.177.21.6 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For the Calgary school, see Alternative High School (Calgary).
In 1970, there were only a few alternative schools in operation in the United States. They originated to serve a growing population of students who were not experiencing success in the traditional schools. Today, alternative schools cater to students who have special educational needs as well as those who would like to experience school differently. There are thousands, and the number continues to grow. The term alternative is now used to describe all types of schools, but many share certain distinguishing characteristics:
- Small size
- Close student-teacher relationship
- Student decision-making
- Diverse curriculum
- Peer guidance & Parental involvement
In education, the phrase alternative high school, sometimes referred to as a minischool, or remedial school, is any secondary school having a special curriculum offering a more flexible program of study than a traditional school. A wide range of philosophies and teaching methods are offered by alternative high schools; some have strong political, scholarly, or philosophical orientations, while others are more ad-hoc assemblies of teachers and students dissatisfied with some aspect of traditional education.