National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) studies education systems with strong student performance across the globe to understand what they do, how they do it, and the context and challenges that they face. This brief shares what has been learned about how global leaders think about high school and how they organize time in school during these critical years. This brief looks at how leading systems think differently about upper secondary time in five areas: (1) Thinking differently about options: What kind of programs are offered to high school students? How do they vary in terms of length, focus, credentials and approach to learning? Can students change their minds?; (2) Thinking differently about choice: How are students supported to make informed choices?; (3) Thinking differently about flexibility: How is time used to personalize programs and pathways for students?; (4) Thinking differently about partnerships: How do high schools partner with other agencies and institutions to design and deliver programs?; and (5) Thinking differently about teachers: How do profiles of teachers vary across programs? How does time spent preparing and teaching differ?