XQ Institute is an American nonprofit organization founded in September 2015 to transform high school in America, so every student graduates prepared to thrive in college, career and life.[2] The organization is headquartered in Oakland, California and was founded by businesswoman and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs and Russlynn Ali, former assistant secretary of civil rights at the US Department of Education.[2][3] The institute began with 'XQ: The Super School Project', a competition to identify new ideas to reform schools and improve student performance.[3][4] Since 2015, XQ has helped communities across the US build new schools, redesign old ones and replace outdated systems with mastery-based, relevant learning.[5][6]
XQ Institute was founded in September 2015 by Laurene Powell Jobs and Russlynn Ali, former assistant secretary of civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education.[3][1] The institute was funded by Emerson Collective, an advocacy organization created by Jobs to fund philanthropic projects.[7] XQ Institute was founded with the goal of changing the high school model, seen as being obsolete.[2] The launch coincided with the announcement of a $50 million competition to redesign American public high schools, with funds to be awarded to build five new schools.[2]
In May 2016, the project launched a traveling yellow school bus with an interactive display that allowed students to share suggestions for improving high schools.[3] In September, ten schools were selected to receive $10 million each, out of 700 applicants.[8]
In October 2019, XQ Institute partnered with New York City charitable organization Robin Hood Foundation to donate $16 million to help open new and restructured public schools in the city.[11] The NY Times reported at the time that XQ: The Super School Project had given out more than $100 million in grants to help teams of students and educators implement ideas for new high schools.[11]
In March 2020, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and state Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green announced at the State House that two schools, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts and Ponaganset High School, were each getting $500,000 grants from XQ to find ways to redesign their schools.[12]
In 2024, a film called "The First Class" was released about the XQ school Crosstown High[14]. The documentary was directed by Lee Hirsch ("Bully") and follows the founding class of students and teachers at Crosstown High.[15] The public charter school was created by parents, teachers, students and other community members in Memphis, Tennessee to offer project-based learning so students are more engaged and see how what they're learning connects to the real world.[16][17] Crosstown is also diverse by design, to heal a city scarred by racial segregation and takes students from all over Memphis.[14] The film is available for free and includes many resources for teachers, parents, students, and other community members.[14]
Programs
XQ Institute's XQ:The Super School Project hosted a contest for new education ideas, and selected winners for funding awards.[3] Representatives from schools were selected to become part of XQ's “community of practice,” designed for schools to exchange successful ideas with education researchers.[12] As of 2018, almost 700 schools across the United States had applied for XQ grants.[18]
The institute also hosted the XQ Yearbook, a digital yearbook for high school students, teachers and others to share their ideas and experiences, with submissions tied to XQ's funding for mental health.[19] The organization hosted other challenges over the years including a national contest along with civic engagement group For Freedoms for students to design visual art illustrating their vision for high school for the next generation.[20]
Organization
XQ Institute is headquartered in Oakland, California.[1] The organization is funded by the Emerson Collective and is an independent affiliate of the company.[3] As of 2025, XQ’s board includes Laurene Powell Jobs, Russlyn Ali, Marc Ecko, Yo-Yo Ma, Geoffrey Canada, Jimmy Iovine and Michael Klein.[21]
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