Looping in High School

Our high school is planning to institute looping this coming year. As a history teacher, I would take the same group of students through four years of social studies. Teachers of math, English, foreign languages and other subjects also would keep the same students. Is this just another education innovation for innovation's sake, or are there real benefits to looping at this level? -- Teacher
Answer: Looping in high school is almost unheard of in the United States. But the few schools where it has been tried have been very pleased with the results. Graduation rates have increased, communication with parents has improved and teachers have really gotten to know their students and how they learn. Students and teachers are able to build a tight relationship. Principals believe that looping really personalizes high school.
How well looping works depends upon the skill and effectiveness of the teachers. They have to meld a group of students into a team for two, three or four years. Teachers also may have to teach subjects that they haven't taught before such as the U.S. history teacher teaching government or economics.