Schools That Succeed, Students Who Achieve compares the academic
achievements of students in the United States to those of students in
other countries. Examining fundamental questions and educational issues,
James Deneen identifies what all students should learn and discusses
what American students currently learn. Deneen argues that failing
schools can become successful by studying examples of successful schools
with similar demographic features. To that end, he presents profiles of
ten successful elementary schools, seven middle schools, ten high
schools, and three highly diverse but successful school districts. The
examples contain a sampling of economically disadvantaged as well as
affluent and financially average school communities. This book provides
demographic data, evidence of student achievement, and descriptions of
programs that contribute to each school and district's success,
illuminating what successful schools do to improve student achievement
regardless of--or sometimes because of--their socioeconomic status. In
the final chapters of this book, Deneen describes the assessment and
evaluation of curricular changes and summarizes the policies and
practices that work to create successful schools.