"I liken most high school education to a donut. It's missing the center, the chance for students to apply their minds to issues that really matter, to practice skills they truly need to be successful, to turn their idealism into action." —Bernice Fedestin, Brighton High School '05, Brighton, MA



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Big to Small: What's Gained and Lost As a Comprehensive High School Converts to Small Schools?

Enumclaw Adventure School, Enumclaw, WA

Over the past five years, the Enumclaw School District restructured its 1600-student high school into seven small interest-based schools. Though most students and teachers support the change, the community has been less enthusiastic. A team of experienced student film-makers at Enumclaw Adventure School, one of the high school's interest-based schools (with 146 students), filmed over 7 hours of interviews and meeting footage to create a documentary that investigates the pros and cons of the school redesign.

Seeking to answer questions like "Can an already thriving comprehensive high school effectively convert to a more successful small school design?" these students produced an ambitious and striking documentary with real community impact. First screened at the Enumclaw Film Festival on June 9, 2005, "Big to Small" aims to promote collaboration in the community by voicing concerns on both sides of this issue and encouraging discussion.
Final Products

Our documentary video "Big to Small"
Click here to download the Windows Media Player.

EAS Film Festival website


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