An Adelaide high school will scrap three levels, years 8, 9 and 10, and group students according to their abilities rather than age.
Lessons will also start later in the day in line with research on sleeping and learning patterns for young people.
The Fremont-Elizabeth City High School will become the state's first transformational school in a program that hopes to boost academic performances and other schools will be free to adopt the same model, Education Minister Susan Close says.
Under the plan, the school will replace the scrapped years 8, 9 and 10 with academic streams.
There will be five streamed levels for each subject, with students placed in the appropriate stream based on their ability rather than their age.
The idea is to ensure all students are ready to begin studying for the high school certificate in Year 11.
"If we can make this work in one of the most disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Australia, then it can become a blueprint that can be rolled out in other schools," principal Rob Knight said.
The changes will be introduced next year along with an upgrade to school facilities.
The state government has provided $7 million over four years to build a centre for advanced technologies, maths and science, and a performing arts and multimedia centre, and refurbish classrooms.
Mr Knight said the funding supported the vision to transform the school and excite students about their future.
"This funding will be used to support not only the physical transformation of the school, but will help refine a curriculum that focuses on jobs in science, technology, maths, hospitality and the arts," he said.
