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Get to Know Us
A deeper look into who we are, how we teach, and why it matters.
Crosstown High was built to rethink what high school can be. This curated collection of videos, articles, blog posts, and student work is designed to give you an inside look at the learning, culture, and community that make our school different. Whether you're a prospective family, educator, or community partner, we invite you to explore, question, and imagine alongside us.
Start exploring the Crosstown experience below
Watch
The First Class
Follow the journey of Crosstown High’s founding students as they navigate a high school experience unlike any other. From imagining life on Mars to wrestling with real-world issues, The First Class offers an honest, inspiring look at how rethinking school can change lives—and communities—for the better.
Students Engage in Project-Based Learning. The Results Surprised Them.
At first, students weren’t sure if learning through projects really worked. Without lectures or worksheets, some questioned whether they were learning at all. But after being assessed, they saw just how much they had mastered, proving that doing, building, and exploring can go deeper than memorizing ever could.
Listen
Podcast: Blue Sky Thinking – A Conversation with Ginger Spickler and Erin Johnson
How does a billboard spark a high school revolution? In this episode, Ginger and Erin share how Crosstown High grew from an idea into a nationally recognized model for learner-centered, project-based education. From design thinking to deep community relationships (and snacks), this is Crosstown’s story in their own words.
Podcast: Shift Your Paradigm – Episode 046
Hear from Crosstown leaders Ginger Spickler, Nikki Wallace, and Lucy Fox on how culture, relationships, and student voice drive innovation at Crosstown High. This conversation explores the “why” behind the school’s unique design—and how it’s changing what high school can be.
Read
The 74 – “AI Doesn’t Have to Be Scary”
How are students shaping the future of tech in schools? This article explores Crosstown High’s collaboration with AI developers, highlighting how student voice and ethical thinking are driving real conversations about what learning with AI should look like.
Bloomberg – “How a Memphis High School Built a Model for Education From Scratch”
A new documentary puts Crosstown High in the national spotlight, capturing the founding journey of students and staff who set out to build a different kind of high school in Memphis—one rooted in equity, belonging, and real-world work.
Medium – “The Future of School Will Not Look Like School”
Author Sam Chaltain reflects on how Crosstown High challenges everything we think we know about school—and why its design, relationships, and student ownership offer a glimpse into education’s future.
Getting Smart – “Crosstown High: Innovative Memphis School”
Get an inside look at Crosstown’s model, housed inside a “vertical urban village” where learning expands beyond the classroom. This article explores how space, equity, and purpose intersect at Crosstown High.
ANFA – Crosstown High Wins National Design Award
Recognized nationally for its learning environment, Crosstown High’s campus design supports creativity, collaboration, and student-centered education, earning a prestigious award from the American Institute of Architects.
Student Work in Action
Explore recent projects that showcase the depth and creativity of our students’ academic journeys.
Learn More About Our Mission & VisionWe are rethinking high school by advancing equity, building community, and doing meaningful work so that every learner can thrive.
Ready to learn differently?
Whether you're a prospective student, a curious family, or an educator looking for a better way, we invite you to experience Crosstown High for yourself.