The article reminds me a bit of the Maine School for Science and Mathematics (http://www.mssm.org/). It is a free boarding school run by the state of Maine to support those kids who don't have a school district where they can really get into STEM. Tuition is free if you're from Maine, which is really cool. A great way to support kids in rural areas. It is usually rated one of the top high schools in the country.