New Designs for School

What Schools Could Learn from In-N-Out Burger

Fast food may be as important of an aspect of the American cultural lexicon as anything else. Indeed, fast food aficionados have their favorites, argue about who has the best burger, and are extremely loyal to their fast food of choice.

One fast food restaurant that continues to get attention is In-N-Out Burger. Although still primarily a Western United States thing, it has become known nationally for a variety of attributes. These include, but are not limited to, a simple and focused menu, freshness, high quality, and their positive treatment of employees. All of this has led to In-N-Out Burger having some of the strongest brand loyalty in the industry.

As a lifelong educator and writer, I am always trying to consider what education can learn from non-education entities. Previously, I wrote 5 Things Education Can Learn From the Food Truck Craze and 3 Things Education Can Learn From The Craft Beer Phenomenon. But now, it’s time to see what education could learn from studying the ins and outs of In-N-Out Burger.

Here are five potential lessons:

1. Clear Purpose & Mission

In-N-Out Burger has a clear, unwavering mission: high-quality food, fast and fresh. Schools could benefit from streamlining their purpose—focusing on deep, authentic learning outcomes (like critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem-solving), rather than spreading thin across test prep, compliance, and bureaucracy. Schools all have mission and vision statements, but in practice it’s often hard to identify what the priorities or focus can be. See Details of In-N-Out Burger Mission.

2. Simple, Consistent Menu

In-N-Out Burger has maintained a minimal menu—just burgers, fries, shakes, and drinks—since its founding in 1948. This simplicity ensures consistent quality and fast service. Schools and education have long struggled to do it all. Indeed, when I began teaching over 30 years ago, I read a book entitled The Shopping Mall High School. In plain terms, the premise was that schools (high schools in this case) try to do it all. And in doing it all, they do nothing well. Schools often try to do too much—too many programs, initiatives, and standards. Focusing on a few high-impact practices (e.g., project-based learning, meaningful assessment, strong relationships) could improve learning experiences and outcomes. As for In-N-Out Burger, they don’t sell salads, hot dogs, ice cream, tacos, sandwiches, chicken, BBQ, or anything else but burgers, fries, and shakes/drinks. In-N-Out Burger focuses on a simple menu and makes sure those items are done well.

3. Consistency and Quality

In-N-Out Burger uses fresh, never frozen beef, hand-leafed lettuce, real potatoes, and no microwaves or freezers in stores, emphasizing high-quality ingredients. Based on my personal experience as a longtime customer, In-N-Out is consistent across locations without sacrificing quality and this builds high levels of consumer confidence and trust. Schools could aim for consistent, high-quality learning experiences across classrooms and grade levels, without reducing teachers to scripted instruction. This means investing in teacher capacity and a strong, shared instructional vision. In-N-Out Burger has high expectations for its products and service. Schools must have the same and then be able to deliver. In-N-Out Burger customers give them high reviews on consistency and quality. But too many schools do not. Part of this also relates to the challenges outlined above in #2. Read about the In-N-Out Burger Commitment to Food Quality.

4. Culture and Employee Investment

In-N-Out Burger invests in its people. They pay far above industry standards, offer clear advancement opportunities, and spend a great deal of energy focused on pride. Indeed, many In-N-Out Burger customers routinely comment on the difference they see in the staff at In-N-Out Burger vs. other fast food restaurants. They see that the staff does take pride in their dress, communication, work ethic, and customer service. Schools need to invest more deeply and consistently in teacher and staff development, professional agency, and recognition. Schools must treat educators as professionals with clearly defined pathways for professional growth, leadership, and advancement. Educators want to be and deserve to be treated as professionals. However, it works both ways. That desire to be treated as professionals also comes with high expectations and standards. Read about In-N-Out Burger Culture.

5. Customer Experience

In-N-Out Burger is known for friendly, efficient service and loyalty to their customer experience. Schools can apply this by prioritizing student experiences—student voice, ownership, relevance, and love of learning—not just outcomes. Making students feel seen, heard, and empowered leads to engagement and deeper learning.

Bonus Item: The “Secret Menu”

The not-so-secret “secret menu” (like Animal Style or Protein Style) has become a cult favorite and gives customers customization options without cluttering the official menu. This approach connects the In-N-Out Burger customer with the brand and with fellow customers. They feel like they are part of something special or unique. Maybe schools could learn to have their own Secret Menu or Special Sauce. In other words, what is a school’s added value? In addition to the focused foundation, what is that extra thing that students can expect and buy into further connecting themselves to the organization like customers are with In-N-Out Burger?

Photo at top by Allison Shelley for EDUimages, CC BY-NC 4.0