Millions of high school students—particularly those with disabilities, with limited proficiency in English, or from low-income backgrounds—need additional support in order to succeed. To address this challenge, the National High School Center promoted the use of research-supported approaches that help all students learn and become adequately prepared for college, work, and life. The National High School Center identified research-supported improvement programs and tools, offered user friendly products, and provided technical assistance services to improve secondary education. 

The National High School Center drew on AIR's extensive experience operating national technical assistance centers, the knowledge its experts have gained by conducting large-scale evaluations of prominent high school reform efforts, and effective tools and resources it has developed in various projects.  

The National High School Center was part of a national network of Content and Regional Comprehensive Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education to help build the capacity of states across the nation to effectively implement the provisions and goals of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). The National High School Center was one of five content centers covering a spectrum of topical areas especially relevant to NCLB and school improvement.