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WHAT IS HIGH SCHOOL TODAY?

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Title: WHAT IS HIGH SCHOOL TODAY?
Authors: Hornbeck, Dustin (AUTHOR) d.hornbeck@memphis.edu
Source: Phi Delta Kappan. Spring2026, Vol. 107 Issue 5/6, p46-50. 5p. 2 Color Photographs.
Subject Terms: *Segregation in education, *School choice, *Dual school enrollment, *Educational objectives, *Educational change, *School-based management, *Civics education
Abstract: The article examines the transformation of the American comprehensive high school from James B. Conant’s 1959 vision of a democratic institution fostering shared civic identity into a fragmented system focused on individualized credentials. It traces how racial segregation, cultural shifts, economic changes, and political reforms have eroded the common curriculum and civic mission, leading to a patchwork of school choice options, dual enrollment programs, and outsourced educational experiences. This decentralization challenges the high school’s role as a public space for cross-class and cross-racial engagement, with civic education increasingly sidelined in favor of college and career preparation. The article concludes by questioning whether and how the democratic ideals of the public high school can be revived amid contemporary social and educational complexities. [Extracted from the article]
Copyright of Phi Delta Kappan is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 192360923
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Periodical
PubTypeId: serialPeriodical
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  Data: WHAT IS HIGH SCHOOL TODAY?
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hornbeck%2C+Dustin%22">Hornbeck, Dustin</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<i> d.hornbeck@memphis.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Phi+Delta+Kappan%22">Phi Delta Kappan</searchLink>. Spring2026, Vol. 107 Issue 5/6, p46-50. 5p. 2 Color Photographs.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Segregation+in+education%22">Segregation in education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+choice%22">School choice</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dual+school+enrollment%22">Dual school enrollment</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+objectives%22">Educational objectives</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+change%22">Educational change</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School-based+management%22">School-based management</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Civics+education%22">Civics education</searchLink>
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  Data: The article examines the transformation of the American comprehensive high school from James B. Conant’s 1959 vision of a democratic institution fostering shared civic identity into a fragmented system focused on individualized credentials. It traces how racial segregation, cultural shifts, economic changes, and political reforms have eroded the common curriculum and civic mission, leading to a patchwork of school choice options, dual enrollment programs, and outsourced educational experiences. This decentralization challenges the high school’s role as a public space for cross-class and cross-racial engagement, with civic education increasingly sidelined in favor of college and career preparation. The article concludes by questioning whether and how the democratic ideals of the public high school can be revived amid contemporary social and educational complexities. [Extracted from the article]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Phi Delta Kappan is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=192360923
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    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 5
        StartPage: 46
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Segregation in education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dual school enrollment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational objectives
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School-based management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Civics education
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: WHAT IS HIGH SCHOOL TODAY?
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Hornbeck, Dustin
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            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Spring2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 107
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              Value: 5/6
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            – TitleFull: Phi Delta Kappan
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