TNMCorps Structure: High School
High School: A secondary school attended after middle school that usually includes grades 9 or 10 through 12.
High School
The Guidelines define High Schools as follows:
A secondary school attended after middle school that usually includes grades 9 or 10 through 12.
- INDICATORS: A high school diploma is offered upon graduation; use of the term “High” in the school name.
INCLUDES: Pubic, private, alternative, and juvenile hall schools.
DOES NOT INCLUDE: Junior High Schools that include grades 8 and lower, or K-12 schools.
|
School District A
|
K-5 | Elementary School |
| 6-8 | Middle School | |
| 9-12 | High School | |
| School District B | K-8 | General School |
| 9-12 | High School | |
| School District C | K-6 | Elementary School |
| 6-12 | General School |
Where can I find authoritative lists of schools?
The best place to find information about a school is on a dedicated school and/or district website. These websites are the first to reflect any changes in pertinent information (e.g., name, address, etc.) and therefore are typically the most accurate. If a dedicated school and/or district website cannot be found (as may be the case for smaller, rural, and/or private schools), there are many secondary sources that compile information from authoritative sources into an aggregate list. Examples of secondary sources include:
- State department of education websites: These typically include all of the licensed public schools in the state. They may also include private schools, but in general they should not be considered a comprehensive list of private schools because they may only include schools whose school administrators have requested to be on the list.
- The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) maintains a database of public and private schools. This database is a result of a voluntary survey results for the Department of Education. Public schools are surveyed every year. Private schools are surveyed every 2 years. The NCES website allows a search for private or public schools by city, county, or state.
- The National Association of Independent Schools has an online searchable database.
- The National Parochial Schools Association lists parochial schools by state.
Tip
Many schools have websites or official Facebook pages that include a news section or event calendar. Before assuming all the information is valid, check to see if recent posts have been made to the page’s news or events section. There are scenarios where a school may have recently closed but its website is still online. Checking the news or events sections for recent updates helps to verify if the school is still in operation.
- For example, M J Jones Elementary School in Richmond, VA has a calendar page on its website. The calendar shows current events at the school, thereby indicating that the school is still in operation.
Where do I place a school structure point?
Most schools typically have one building and the point should be placed at the center of the building. If a school has multiple buildings as part of the same complex, place the point at the center of the complex.
Many schools, especially rural schools, have multiple institutions all in one building. Should these be depicted as one school, or multiple schools (elementary school, middle school, high school)? This generally is decided based on information from the school website or the state department of education website. If these websites list separate schools at the same address, then add one point for each school, with each point placed within the footprint of the building. The newsletter article titled Rare Find: 4 High Schools in One! (March 2019) walks users through this very scenario.
Check out the following articles from the March 2019 newsletter below.
- Rare Find: 4 High Schools in One! walks users through this very scenario.
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 9: Schools
