Promising solutions to the failings of traditional comprehensive high schools were reviewed to identify basic principles and strategies for improving high schools nationwide. Selected research studies, policy documents, and promising high school programs were reviewed. The review revealed the following principles for helping high schools better prepare all students for college and/or career: (1) high standards; (2) personalization; (3) relevance; and (4) flexibility with instructional strategies, time, and resources to provide multiple opportunities for success. The following promising high school reform models were profiled: (1) America's Choice (a program to raise all students' achievement up to internationally benchmarked standards of achievement in English language arts and mathematics); (2) Coalition of Essential Schools (a coalition increasing the amount and quality of learning in schools adhering to 10 common principles); (3) First Things First (an emerging national reform designed to build close, respectful, and productive relationships between students attending schools in economically disadvantaged communities and adults working in those schools); (4) High Schools That Work (a program based on the belief that most students can learn to master academic and technical concepts if given the right challenging environment); and (5) Talent Developing High Schools (a program based on dividing existing high schools into a series of academies). (References 32 references.) (MN)