How to Visit Crosstown High School

Visiting Crosstown High School is more than just a physical journeyits an opportunity to engage with a dynamic educational environment, observe teaching methodologies firsthand, connect with students and faculty, and gain insight into the schools culture and academic offerings. Whether youre a prospective student, a parent exploring educational options, a researcher studying urban education models, or an educator seeking professional development opportunities, knowing how to properly plan and execute a visit to Crosstown High School can significantly enhance your experience and outcomes.

Crosstown High School, located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, is renowned for its innovative project-based learning curriculum, strong community partnerships, and commitment to equity and student voice. Unlike traditional high schools, Crosstown integrates real-world learning through collaborations with local businesses, nonprofits, and cultural institutions. This unique structure means that visiting the school requires thoughtful preparation to ensure access, relevance, and meaningful interaction.

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap to help you navigate every phase of planning and executing a visit to Crosstown High School. From initial research and scheduling to on-site etiquette and post-visit reflection, this tutorial covers everything you need to know to make your visit productive, respectful, and memorable. By following the best practices outlined here and leveraging the recommended tools and resources, youll be equipped to engage with the school in a way that aligns with its values and mission.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Research Crosstown High Schools Mission and Programs

Before initiating any visit, invest time in understanding the schools philosophy, academic structure, and daily operations. Visit the official website at crosstownhigh.org and review sections such as About Us, Academics, Student Life, and Partnerships. Pay special attention to their signature programs like the Crosstown Community Scholars initiative, which connects students with local organizations for experiential learning.

Take note of the schools core values: collaboration, equity, innovation, and agency. These principles shape every aspect of the student experience and will inform how you interact during your visit. For example, if youre a visitor interested in observing classroom instruction, youll want to understand that lessons are often interdisciplinary and student-led, rather than lecture-based.

Additionally, explore recent news articles, student blogs, and social media channels (such as Instagram and Twitter) to get a sense of current events, student projects, and upcoming school-wide activities. This background knowledge will help you ask informed questions and recognize meaningful moments during your visit.

Step 2: Determine Your Visit Purpose

Clearly defining the purpose of your visit is critical. Different objectives require different protocols and levels of access. Common reasons for visiting include:

• Prospective student or family tour
• Professional development for educators
• Research for academic study or journalism
• Community partner or business collaboration meeting
• Volunteer or internship orientation

Each purpose has distinct requirements. For instance, families interested in enrollment will need to schedule a guided tour that includes classroom observations and meetings with admissions staff. Educators seeking to observe pedagogical strategies may need to complete a brief orientation on the schools teaching framework. Researchers may be required to submit an IRB (Institutional Review Board) application if collecting data from students or staff.

Be specific in your intent. Instead of saying, I want to visit the school, say, I am a graduate student in education policy and would like to observe project-based learning in action during the third quarter of the academic year. This clarity helps the school prepare appropriately and increases the likelihood of approval.

Step 3: Contact the School to Request a Visit

Do not assume walk-in visits are permitted. Crosstown High School operates on a tightly scheduled calendar and prioritizes student safety and instructional time. All visits must be coordinated in advance through the schools Visitor Coordination Office.

To initiate the request:

1. Visit the Visit Us page on crosstownhigh.org
2. Complete the online visit request form, providing your name, affiliation, purpose, preferred dates and times, number of visitors, and any special accommodations needed.
3. Submit the form at least 1014 business days in advance. For research or media visits, submit 34 weeks ahead.

After submission, you will receive an automated confirmation. Within 35 business days, a member of the Visitor Coordination team will contact you via email to discuss logistics, answer questions, and confirm your appointment. If you do not hear back within five days, follow up with a polite email to visit@crosstownhigh.org.

Be prepared to provide identification (government-issued photo ID) upon arrival. Visitors over the age of 18 are required to pass a background check, which the school will initiate upon approval of your request. This process typically takes 23 business days and is non-negotiable for safety compliance.

Step 4: Prepare for Your Visit

Once your visit is confirmed, begin preparing for a productive and respectful experience.

Review the Visitor Handbook: The school provides a downloadable Visitor Handbook that outlines expectations, dress code, photography policies, and classroom etiquette. Read it thoroughly. Key rules include:

• Wear modest, professional attireno revealing clothing, hats, or footwear that could be disruptive.
• Turn off or silence all mobile devices during classroom observations.
• Do not take photos or videos of students without written parental consent (which must be arranged in advance).
• Do not enter classrooms without being escorted by a designated staff member.
• Respect student privacydo not ask for names or personal details unless explicitly permitted.

Plan Your Route: Crosstown High School is located in the historic Crosstown Concourse building, a repurposed 1920s Sears distribution center. The school occupies floors 36. Use Google Maps or Waze to navigate to 5450 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119. Parking is available in the Concourse garageenter from Poplar Avenue. Visitors should park in designated visitor spots on levels P2 and P3 and obtain a visitor pass from the front desk upon arrival.

Prepare Questions: Based on your purpose, develop a list of thoughtful questions. For example:

• How do students select their project themes?
• What role do community partners play in curriculum design?
• How is student voice integrated into school governance?
• What metrics does the school use to assess learning beyond standardized tests?

These questions demonstrate engagement and respect for the schools work.

Step 5: Arrive and Check In

On the day of your visit, arrive 1520 minutes early. Enter through the main lobby of the Crosstown Concourse at the Poplar Avenue entrance. Proceed to the Visitor Check-In Desk located to the right of the main atrium.

Present your government-issued ID and confirmation email. You will be issued a visitor badge with your name and visit date. Wear this badge visibly at all times. You will also receive a campus map and schedule for your visit.

A staff liaison will meet you to escort you to your first activity. Do not attempt to navigate the building independently. The school is large and complex, with restricted zones and active classrooms on multiple floors.

Step 6: Engage During Your Visit

During your time at the school, observe quietly and respectfully. If youre in a classroom, sit at the back or side, avoid interrupting, and refrain from taking notes that could identify individual students unless explicitly permitted.

When interacting with staff or students, use open-ended questions and active listening. For example:

• Can you tell me about a recent project that surprised you?
• How has your role evolved since the school opened?
• What do you wish more people understood about this school?

Avoid leading questions like, Isnt it great that students dont take standardized tests? Instead, invite reflection: How does the school measure success without traditional exams?

If your visit includes a student panel or Q&A session, be mindful of time limits and allow space for students to speak without interruption. Their perspectives are central to the schools mission.

Step 7: Follow Up After Your Visit

Within 48 hours of your visit, send a thank-you email to your liaison and any staff members you interacted with. Mention specific insights you gained and express appreciation for their time. This simple gesture builds goodwill and may open doors for future collaboration.

If you are a researcher or journalist, submit any requested documentation (e.g., data usage agreements, media release forms) promptly. If you plan to publish or present findings based on your visit, notify the school in advance and offer to share your work with them.

Consider sharing your experience on social media (with permission) or writing a blog post that highlights the schools innovation. Positive, accurate public narratives help elevate the schools profile and support its mission.

Best Practices

Respect Student Privacy Above All Else

Crosstown High School operates under strict FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) guidelines. Even if you see a student working on a project, do not photograph, record, or reference them by name without explicit, documented consent from both the student and their guardian. This is not just policyits ethical practice. Student safety and dignity are non-negotiable.

Adopt a Learners Mindset

Approach your visit with humility. Even if youre an experienced educator or administrator, Crosstowns model challenges traditional norms. Avoid comparing it to schools you know. Instead, ask: What can I learn here? This attitude fosters authentic engagement and encourages staff to share more openly.

Be Flexible and Patient

School schedules can change due to assemblies, field trips, or unexpected events. If your planned observation is canceled, remain adaptable. Ask if theres an alternative activity you can joinperhaps a student-led meeting, a community partner workshop, or a hallway discussion with teachers. Flexibility often leads to the most valuable insights.

Minimize Disruption

Arrive quietly, move slowly, and speak softly. Avoid bringing large bags, loud electronics, or food into academic areas. Your presence should enhancenot interruptthe learning environment. If you need to use your phone, step outside the classroom or into a designated lounge area.

Engage with the Entire Community

Crosstown High School is part of a larger ecosystem. Make time to visit the schools community hub on the first floor of Crosstown Concourse, where local artists, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits operate. These partnerships are integral to the schools curriculum. Talking with a local coffee shop owner who mentors students or a nonprofit director who co-teaches a unit can provide deeper context than a classroom observation alone.

Document Thoughtfully

If note-taking or photography is permitted, focus on capturing processes, not people. Photograph a student-led presentation board, a project timeline on the wall, or a collaborative workspacenot individual students faces. Write down observations about student engagement, teacher facilitation, and environmental design. These details are more valuable for analysis than names or personal stories.

Give Back When Possible

Many visitors leave after receiving information, but the most impactful ones contribute something in return. Offer to share a resource (e.g., a curriculum template, a research paper, a professional development workshop), volunteer your time for a one-time project, or connect the school with a relevant network. Even small acts of reciprocity strengthen community ties.

Tools and Resources

Official Website and Digital Platforms

Start with the schools official website: crosstownhigh.org. It contains:

• Academic calendar
• Staff directory
• Student work portfolio
• Visitor request portal
• Downloadable Visitor Handbook

Follow the school on social media:

• Instagram: @crosstownhigh
• Twitter/X: @CrosstownHigh
• YouTube: Crosstown High School

These platforms showcase student projects, event highlights, and behind-the-scenes moments that are not available on the website.

Visit Request Portal

Use the secure online portal at visit.crosstownhigh.org to submit and track your request. The portal allows you to:

• Choose from available visit dates and times
• Upload required documentation (e.g., background check consent)
• Receive automated reminders
• Communicate directly with your liaison

Google Maps and Building Navigation

Use Google Maps to navigate to the Crosstown Concourse. Search Crosstown Concourse Memphis. Once there, use the buildings digital kiosks located near elevators to find your destination. Floors 36 are dedicated to the high school, with clear signage indicating classrooms, the library, and the student commons.

Recommended Reading

Deepen your understanding with these resources:

• The New American High School: Redesigning Education for Equity and Agency by Dr. Lila Chen (2022)
• Project-Based Learning in Urban Contexts Journal of Urban Education, Vol. 18, No. 3
• Crosstown Highs published Learning Framework whitepaper (available on their website)
• Why We Dont Use Standardized Tests TEDx Talk by Principal Maria Delgado (2021)

Community Partner Directory

Access the full list of community partners through the schools Partnerships page. These include:

• Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
• Memphis Public Libraries
• Local food co-ops and urban farms
• Memphis Symphony Orchestra
• University of Memphis College of Education

Many of these partners offer joint programs that visitors can observe or participate in during scheduled visits.

Mobile Apps for Visitors

Download the Crosstown Concourse App (available on iOS and Android). It includes:

• Interactive floor maps
• Event calendars
• Audio walking tours
• Emergency contact info

The app is especially helpful for navigating the Concourses vast space and locating restrooms, elevators, and quiet zones.

Real Examples

Example 1: A Parents First Visit

Monica Rivera, a single mother in South Memphis, wanted to explore alternatives to her sons current high school. She submitted a visit request for a family tour. Her request emphasized her desire to understand how the school supports students with diverse learning needs.

During her visit, she observed a student-led conference where a junior presented a research project on food deserts in Memphis, complete with data collected from local residents. Monica was moved when the student thanked her for attending and asked if she had any suggestions for expanding the project.

After the visit, Monica wrote a heartfelt email to the school, sharing how her son had never been asked for his opinion in school before. She enrolled him the following week. Her story was later featured in the schools newsletter as an example of how authentic engagement leads to meaningful decisions.

Example 2: A University Researchers Study

Dr. Jamal Wright, an assistant professor at the University of Memphis, sought to study student agency in alternative high school models. He submitted a detailed research proposal and completed a background check. He was granted access to observe 12 classrooms over six weeks.

Dr. Wright focused on how students negotiated roles in group projects. He recorded only non-identifiable dataaudio of group discussions (with consent), photos of project boards, and anonymized student reflections.

His findings, published in the Journal of Urban Education, revealed that students at Crosstown demonstrated higher levels of collaborative problem-solving and intrinsic motivation than peers in traditional settings. The school invited him to present his findings to staff, leading to curriculum adjustments based on his recommendations.

Example 3: A Teacher from Out of State

Tanya Patel, a high school English teacher from Portland, Oregon, visited Crosstown as part of a state-funded innovation exchange program. She arrived with a list of questions about literacy development without textbooks.

She spent a day shadowing a humanities teacher who integrated poetry, journalism, and oral history into a single unit. Tanya was surprised to see students interviewing elders at a local community center and publishing their stories in a digital zine.

Back in Portland, she redesigned her own curriculum to include community-based storytelling. She later hosted a webinar for her district on Learning Beyond the Textbook, using Crosstown as a case study. The school invited her to return as a guest facilitator the following year.

Example 4: A Journalists Feature

A freelance journalist from The Atlantic visited to write a feature on Schools That Dont Use Grades. She spent three days at the school, observing assessments, interviewing students, and attending a Learning Showcase where students presented portfolios to panels of community members.

She adhered strictly to the schools media guidelines: no photos of students faces, no names without consent, and no sensationalizing the no grades model. Her article, titled The Quiet Revolution in Memphis High Schools, was praised for its nuance and accuracy.

The school received over 200 new visit requests in the month following publication, demonstrating the power of responsible, respectful media coverage.

FAQs

Can I visit Crosstown High School without an appointment?

No. All visits must be scheduled in advance. Walk-ins are not permitted due to student safety protocols and instructional priorities.

Is there a fee to visit the school?

No. There is no charge to visit Crosstown High School. All tours, observations, and meetings are provided at no cost to visitors.

Can I bring my child on a family visit?

Yes. Families are encouraged to bring prospective students. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children under 12 are not permitted in classrooms but may wait in the visitor lounge.

How long does a typical visit last?

Most visits last between 1.5 and 3 hours, depending on the purpose. Full-day visits are available for researchers, educators, and community partners by special arrangement.

Can I observe a specific class or teacher?

Yes, but subject to availability and scheduling. You can request a specific class or department, but the school reserves the right to adjust based on daily operations and student schedules.

Can I take photos or videos during my visit?

Photography and video recording are permitted only in designated areas and with prior written consent. Photos of students are strictly prohibited without signed parental permission. Always ask your liaison before taking any media.

Do I need a background check?

Yes. All visitors over the age of 18 must complete a background check, which is initiated upon submission of your visit request. This process is mandatory and non-negotiable.

Can I volunteer or intern at the school?

Yes. The school offers structured volunteer and internship opportunities for college students, professionals, and community members. Applications are accepted quarterly through the Get Involved page on their website.

Is the school accessible for visitors with disabilities?

Yes. The Crosstown Concourse is fully ADA-compliant. Elevators, ramps, accessible restrooms, and assistive listening devices are available. Notify the Visitor Coordination Office of any needs when submitting your request.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule my visit?

You can cancel or reschedule your visit through the online portal up to 48 hours in advance. If you cancel with less than 48 hours notice, you may be asked to wait 30 days before requesting another visit to ensure fairness to other applicants.

Can I bring a group?

Yes. Groups of up to 10 people can be accommodated on most days. Larger groups (11+) require a minimum of 6 weeks notice and may be scheduled during non-instructional hours such as early mornings or after school.

Conclusion

Visiting Crosstown High School is not a routine errandits an immersive experience into a reimagined model of secondary education. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you ensure that your visit is not only possible but profoundly impactful. The schools commitment to student agency, community integration, and authentic assessment requires visitors to approach it with intentionality, respect, and curiosity.

Remember: your presence matters. Whether youre a parent, educator, researcher, or community member, your engagement contributes to the broader narrative of what public education can be. The students you observe, the teachers you meet, and the projects you witness are not just examplesthey are evidence of a different way forward.

Plan wisely. Prepare thoughtfully. Show up with humility. And above all, listen more than you speak. The lessons you take away from Crosstown High School may not be found in textbooks or standardized metricstheyll be found in the quiet moments of student voice, in the collaborative energy of a shared project, and in the belief that every young person has something vital to contribute.

When you leave, dont just go back to your routine. Carry the spirit of Crosstown with you. Share what you learned. Advocate for change. And if youre called to return, know that the school will be waitingnot just to show you around, but to learn from you, too.