HVSS is a participatory democracy, each student and staff has an equal vote in the operation of the school. The weekly School Meeting debates and makes decisions on all laws, discretionary spending, field trips, and the hiring of staff. There is no veto power or hierarchy, students have true power and grow up understanding their voice counts.
Students have access to technology with the time to research, game and code. Most computer pursuits are a social scene bubbling with excitement and cooperation.