A 2-year project to specify new designs for the comprehensive high school of the future identified the following important features: (1) a guaranteed set of learner outcomes closely linked to present and future life roles and responsibilities for all students; (2) learning applied to life situations, using authentic assessment; (3) multiple ways to learn; (4) integration of high-level academic education and modern vocational education for all; (5) partnerships with parents and families, business, industry and labor, community-based organizations, and other schools to diversify learning settings and to make learning up-to-date and meaningful; (6) a special learning signature that gives coherence and spirit to learning; (7) operation as a learning community that may require the subdivision of large schools into smaller units; (8) alignment and unification of all school components to achieve quality and efficiency; (9) an engaging learning environment that naturally leads to cooperative experiential learning; (10) staffing that encourages teamwork, attention to unique learning needs, and full use of educational talent and energy in the school and community; (11) extensive use of learning technology; (12) decision making consistent with overall aims, yet close to the problem at hand; and (13) costs that do not exceed current budget. (Among topics discussed in the document are the "design-down" process, learner outcomes, the learning process, the learning organization, decision-making, learning partnerships, staff and staff development, learning technology, and an archetype for a new facility, illustrated with architectural drawings.) (CML)