High Five: A brief history

The unique partnership known as High Five began in 2003 with an inspiration and a question. Orage Quarles III, president and publisher of The News & Observer, wondered what could happen if his company, and several others, joined forces to fund a major initiative to improve public schools.

What would you do, he asked the superintendents of the Triangle’s five public school systems. How would you work together? Where would you focus your efforts? How would we measure success?

That led to a series of round-table discussions among the superintendents and leaders of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Progress Energy, Capitol Broadcasting, SAS and The News & Observer.

In November 2003, the superintendents proposed a regional consortium for excellence in education that would focus on high school reform. The project would tackle the issue of high school dropouts. It would raise expectations for student achievement. It would compel collaboration across district lines to share best practices.

Their vision: All students graduate with a high school diploma, well prepared to pursue higher education and a career of their choice.

Over the next few months, a steering committee worked on details of the initiative, and High Five took shape as a 501(c) 3 corporation. Board members were recruited, and a kickoff event planned.

On April 2, 2004, five corporate sponsors and five school systems announced their five-year, $2.5-million commitment to improve high schools.