North Queens Community High School serves approximately 200 students, 16-20 years old, as they strive to reach their personal and academic goals. All students at North Queens have previously been enrolled in high school elsewhere and are over-age and undercredited. Small class sizes, student-centered support, and an accelerated credit acquisition…

Many school districts have set up alternative learning centers to provide programs for students whose behavior problems keep them from functioning effectively in a traditional school program. A recent study of seven alternative middle school programs attributes program success to teacher effectiveness, focus on student learning, and smaller class…

The case study of the establishment of the rural community-based Sault Ste. Marie Area Public Schools' Alternative High School, emphasizing basic academic skills, and with a high Native American minority student population (16 years or older), shows that alienated youths, when given the opportunity and support, tend to show significant growth in…