http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EDInitiatives/00/00-01-24.html#8
ED Initiatives -- January 24, 2000ED Initiatives...January 24, 2000


            High-Performing, High-Poverty Schools 
              Harriet A. Baldwin Elementary (Boston, MA) is one of 9 
              high-performing, high-poverty urban elementary schools featured in 
              "Hope for Urban Education." Five years ago, Baldwin was described 
              as "chaotic and disorganized." There was little communication 
              within the school, with other schools, or with the district 
              office. "There was constant turmoil among both kids and adults," 
              principal Suzanne Lee recalls.
              Today, Baldwin -- which serves mostly students eligible for free 
              or reduced-price lunches (80%) and from families speaking a 
              language other than English (78%) -- is described by teachers, 
              parents, and visitors as a safe, welcoming, academically focused 
              school. Math and reading scores have risen considerably. For 
              example, in 1997, 75% of 4th-graders were at Level 1 and 2 in 
              reading (on the Stanford 9), with only 25% at higher levels. In 
              1998, 44% were at Level 2, and 56% at Levels 3 and 4, with none at 
              Level 1.
              At a second school featured in the report, Baskin Elementary (San 
              Antonio, TX), scores on the statewide criterion-referenced test in 
              1994 reflected a huge gap in white and non-white student 
              performance. For example, there was a 56 percentage point gap 
              between the percentage of white and African American students 
              reaching a passing standard on the reading tests. Similar gaps 
              existed among other groups of students in reading, mathematics, 
              and writing. There were other indicators of problems. One teacher 
              recalled, "There were major discipline problems and students 
              cursed at the teachers."
              Four years later, the school, where 92% of students receive free 
              or reduced-price lunches, received an "exemplary" rating from the 
              Texas Education Agency. This meant that at least 90% of all 
              students -- at least 90% of African American students, at least 
              90% of Hispanic students, and at least 90% of low-income students 
              -- passed the reading section, the writing section, and the math 
              section of the test. Only 15% of all schools in Texas received the 
              exemplary rating in 1998.
              How did Baldwin and Baskin achieve such results? Their stories are 
              presented in this report, along with 10 recommendations that may 
              be helpful to other schools seeking to change themselves into 
              high-performing schools.
              http://www.ed.gov/pubs/urbanhope/




Last Updated -- February 9, 2000 (pjk)