Florida Pompano Beach High School, Pompano Beach
Students participate in the Global Learning Initiative for the Digital Education of Students (GLIDES). The project integrates five diverse curriculum areas into learning experiences that have connected students with classrooms in Ghana, Japan, and Spain, as well as with younger students in their own community.

Georgia, Tri-Cities
High School Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program Atlanta Academics and concentrated visual and performing arts training are taught in tandem and are available to motivated, gifted students. Extensive community outreach and support helps fund a wide array of programs.

Hawaii Kihei Charter School, Kihei 
The school has developed a hands-on Outdoor Science Program in marine biology for its juniors and seniors. Students work with scientific organizations to design, implement, and report on original, inquiry-based research that connects classroom math and technology concepts to real-world applications.

Idaho Cascade Jr./Sr. High School, Cascade 
The Advanced Research Lab enables juniors and seniors to use science in a community-based science project. They have begun transforming a swampy dumping site into a fishing park for elderly, disabled, and young people. Students also research ways to improve the water quality of a local pond.

Illinois Lewistown Community High School, Lewiston 
The school's Tube Band uses plumbing and kitchen utensils to create instruments and perfomance modules to keep kids from using drugs, bullying, and other destructive behaviors. Students have performed for everyone from Kindergarteners to senior groups.

Indiana Seeger Jr./Sr. High School, West Lebanon 
After the school and community in this rural area of Indiana agreed to work together to address obesity, a fitness facility was built. More than 2,000 members of the community use the facility along with students, who each graduate with a fitness plan.

Iowa Garner-Hayfield High School, Garner 
YIELD (Youth Investing Energy in Leadership Development) unites the school district, the Chamber of Commerce, and a community coalition to support juniors who exhibit potential and leadership skills. Students plan and lead their own community project. Each receives mentoring from a local businessperson.

Kansas Paola High School, Paola 
The formation of a Robotics Team through the FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program has brought together teachers, professionals, and retired educators, to help students build competitive robots. 98 percent of team members go to college.

Kentucky Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green 
The school made efforts to increase the number of Advanced Placement (AP) students by engaging them in daily study sessions and in challenging coursework. There has been an 80 percent increase in the number of students taking the AP exams with a 70 percent pass rate.

Louisiana "C.E. Byrd High School", Shreveport 
Using distance-learning technology, this large magnet school shares its high-quality faculty and advanced coursework with two smaller schools in the area. Without Byrd High School's contribution, students at the smaller schools would not be able to take AP calculus and other important courses.

Maine Carrabec High School, North Anson 
Using a weight-training program to transform lives, the Will Power Center brings together faculty, students, and community members. Participants support each other's commitment to exceed their former physical and mental limits through rigorous workouts and tutoring.

Maryland Eastern Technical High School, Baltimore
To help address the teacher shortage, the school created the Teacher Academy of Maryland. Students there can declare education to be a four-year "career major." By 2009-2010, nearly 100 students will have matriculated from the program with early preparation for a career in teaching. 

Massachusetts Community Academy, Roxbury 
A former alternative school for expelled students has transformed itself into a vibrant, diploma-granting institution. With student, faculty, and community support, the school is no longer a place with low expectations; instead it is a place where many of the school system's most difficult students are thriving.