First published 1983
Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot tackles the fundamental question of what distinguishes an effective high school. The Harvard educator selects six institutions with strong reputations for her investigation: George Washington Carver High School in Atlanta, John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx, Highland Park High School near Chicago, Bookline High School in Brookline, Massachusetts, St. Paul's in Concord, New Hampshire, and Milton Academy near Boston. Through detailed examination of these diverse schools, Lawrence-Lightfoot seeks to identify the common elements that contribute to educational excellence. Her research spans public and private institutions across different regions and student populations. The book provides educators, parents, and policymakers with concrete insights into the characteristics that make schools truly effective.
Genres: sociology, education, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: informative, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-setting, investigative-journalism
Setting: Atlanta, Bronx, Chicago, Brookline, Concord, Boston
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
410 pages · Paperback · Basic Books