What five things make a school great?

GreatSchools recently launched its list of Top Schools. The list features five high schools in each state that represent the qualities of a great school, including academic performance and parent involvement.
What do you think make the qualities of a great school? How would you expand this list?

Here's the link to the Top Schools page: www.greatschools.net/top-high-schools/

And to the corresponding article: www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/3703

Parent Answers to "What five things make a school great?"

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1. Students first
2. caring dedicated Staff
3. a great curriculum
4. high expectations
5. Success

4th thing is great and food. i want to watch my weight and have great food at the same time, don't you? 5th thing is extracurricular ativities. i need cool extra curricular if you don't have extra curricular activities then i am not going. no thank you!

one thing is the discipline. they need more then a 2 star rating on this website or i will not go there. second thing, the teachers have to be very nice and very respectful of their students. 3rd thing is the learning. i need to learn a lot in a very fun way!

Caring teachers and staff
Involved parents
after school activities that are not limited to sports
healthy lunch and snack
opportunities for growth for the school itself, the staff and the children attending

Teachers who are allowed to grow in a trusting environment & given the opportunity for professional development on a continual basis; community that recognizes the importance of it's school(s) to the viability of the community as a whole, strong, compassionate, & trusted administrative leadership; involved parents; good financing.

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What five things make a school great?

Parent Answers to "What five things make a school great?"

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