Great schools have the power to change lives. They transform the process of guiding students towards benchmark success into a transformative learning experience that helps young people chart a course for a bright future. This type of education is purposefully designed to foster creativity and critical thinking. It’s a place where students are introduced to ideas that inspire them and encouraged to investigate possible career paths in which those ideas could take flight. A great school is one where students understand that true learning, learning that matters to them and helps them connect to their goals, occurs. Three essential priorities are critical in assisting educators in designing innovative schools that strive to be great for all students: young people must be at the centre of any school design process; great practise must be deployed with the needs of students in mind; and schools must grow alongside students, practising iteration to meet emerging challenges. Given the demands on school staff and government regulations that place a premium on academic accomplishment, focusing on holistic adolescent outcomes and school outcomes that improve both adolescent psychosocial well-being and societal well-being remains a priority. The key to making youth development in schools a success is to take a system-wide approach to efforts and outcomes, as well as to form strategic relationships with key community stakeholders who share a same goal of fostering positive youth development. Great schools make learning easier by making these developmental milestones fundamental to their mission and smoothly incorporating them into academic goals.