Center for Policy Research

Policy Brief

Public School Districts Should Close Their “Alternative” and “Continuation” High Schools

Sean J. Drake

C.P.R. Policy Brief No. 22

November 2025

Sean J. Drake

Sociology Department

Center for Policy Research

United States

Sean J. Drake

Students who struggle academically are often pushed into "alternative" high schools meant to help them catch up and graduate. But do these schools actually work?

This brief summarizes findings from a two-year study of an alternative school in suburban Los Angeles, California. The author finds that these schools often reproduce more inequality than they alleviate, with Black, Latino, and low-income students vastly overrepresented. Students at alternative schools have no access to sports, clubs, or courses required for four-year college admission, and are more likely to drop out than peers who remain at comprehensive high schools.

The author recommends closing alternative schools and developing integrated credit recovery programs at comprehensive high schools instead.

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CPR Policy Briefs present concise summaries of findings from recent research conducted by CPR affiliates in the areas of crime and the law, economic wellbeing and poverty, education, energy and the environment, families, health, public finance, social welfare, urban and regional economics, and other policy-relevant domains.