Describes theme schools developed for students in Dearborn (Michigan) Public Schools, such as an elementary school for science and a high school for engineering and technology. Includes a discussion of benefits and challenges. (PKP)

In 2000, Oil City Elementary School faced collapsing enrollment, a high-risk student population, and a reputation as the place for kids who were not smart enough to attend the nearby academic magnet. The school was slated for closure. But the school had a history of connection to Oil City, a town of 1,500 in western Louisiana, and school staff…

Latinos now constitute the largest minority group in the United States and the fastest growing segment of its school-age population. Yet they are the least educated of all major ethnic groups. Poverty, lack of access to high-quality preschool, low levels of parental education attainment, and hypersegregated schools all play a crucial role. The…

Foreign language study in elementary schools is making a comeback. Three models of innovative elementary language programs are presented. (Author/MLF)

Gardendale (Florida) Elementary Magnet School is a single-track, year-round elementary school with a four-theme magnet program, actually four magnet schools under one roof. There are schools of performing arts, math and science, arts and cultures, and microsociety. Success hinges on team leadership, strategic planning, and an active governance…

The goal of closing achievement gaps between students of different socioeconomic status and race has eluded public schools for decades. Facing increased pressure from NCLB to reach this goal, some school districts have turned to a new experiment based on an old-fashioned vision: integrating students by socioeconomic income. Kahlenberg reviews the…

The "inside-out" curriculum development method involves the entire faculty in working with a curriculum developer housed permanently in the school. This method was used for the Magnet Center for Public Services: Government and Law established in Dallas (Texas) by the desegregation order of 1976. (Author/MLF)

The Thomas J. Pappas Regional Education Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is a magnet school for homeless students from unorganized territories, military installations, Indian reservations, and national forest lands. This "accommodation" school, supported by federal grants, in-kind business donations, and committed volunteer mentors from the…

At a Kansas City (Missouri) elementary school, teachers expect students to spend half their learning time on a computer. The racially mixed school has one computer for every two students, two computer labs, and work stations from which teachers can monitor students' progress and generate lessons using software like "Icon Arthur" and…

Relates stories about the benefits of project-based learning. Describes engaging students through projects, motivating hard-to-reach students, and challenges for teachers. Includes list of common features of project-based learning. (PKP)

A year-round magnet elementary school in Salem, Massachusetts, has increased its family involvement by borrowing elements from many models. The school has mixed-age groupings, integrated social services, and community outreach strategies such as a parent center, business-sponsored Friday clubs, and celebrations of learning. (MLH)

Reviewing research on alternative schools, the author notes that the schools show improved student attendance, attitude, and involvement, as well as higher educational quality and academic achievement. (MD)

High school is an inescapably vocational institution whose occupational focus is largely hidden. Integration of vocational and academic education through academies, occupationally focused schools, and occupational clusters may eliminate "shopping mall" course selections, improve teaching of all subjects, enhance student engagement with learning,…

Two reasons African American females do not pursue science careers are the need for immediate employment and lack of tools to negotiate the racism and sexism that undermine their aspirations for success. This article describes intervention strategies in an Afrocentric school and a medical magnet school that encourage African American girls to…

By granting teachers greater empowerment and higher compensation in return for closer involvement with students, Rochester City School District is seeking to make public schools successful for all students. (Author/TE)