How the ‘learning studio’ model is transforming classrooms and teaching in a US high school
A new architectural and instructional model is reshaping the traditional concept of classrooms in a US high school. Compton High School in California, scheduled to open in Fall 2025, is adopting the “learning studio” model — a flexible, technology-enabled setup designed to foster collaboration and real-world learning.The learning studio concept replaces the traditional classroom with shared, adaptable spaces. Teachers no longer have assigned rooms. Instead, they rotate between spaces depending on availability and lesson requirements. This college-style approach marks a bold shift in how high school education is delivered in the US.A flexible vision for future learningThe new Compton High School has been designed by the DLR Group architecture firm with a strong emphasis on adaptability. “The big focus here was to create a space that’s very flexible and adaptable,” said Alenoush Aghajanians, the school’s design leader, as quoted by the LA Times. Each learning studio features movable tables and chairs, ceiling-mounted cord rails for power access, and whiteboards for student brainstorming and coding work.According to the LA Times, these studios resemble lecture halls and include projection capabilities and open-concept designs. Glass-paneled walls allow natural light and visibility from both the outdoors and hallways, fostering an open learning environment.Rethinking the teacher’s role and spaceTeachers will no longer maintain a personal classroom. Instead, when not conducting lessons, they will have access to compact “collaboration rooms” equipped with desks, computers, and minimal storage. This mobility is made possible by the increasing reliance on digital tools. Most student assignments, tests, and projects are completed online, reducing the physical materials teachers need to carry.Compton High Principal Larry Natividad described the new model as “like a college setting,” suggesting it will better prepare students for higher education, as reported by the LA Times.Mixed reactions from educators and unionsThe response among educators has been mixed. Some are intrigued by the flexibility, while others are skeptical. Kristen Luevanos, president of the Compton teachers union, told the LA Times that innovation is welcome but warned that changes often happen with “too little teacher training and too little teacher input.” She emphasized the need for summer workshops to help teachers adjust, especially those with mobility issues.Longtime LA Unified teacher Nicolle Fefferman voiced concern to the LA Times, saying, “As a teacher, I build a physical space that reflects a little of who I am… The foundation of public education is relationship building and we need our physical spaces to reflect that value.”A new model, still being testedDespite concerns, families are eager to enroll, drawn to the school’s modern facilities and ambitious vision. The learning studio model is still unproven on a large scale in US public high schools, but Compton High may soon serve as a case study in how learning spaces shape educational outcomes.
