Left Behind: Urban High Schools and the Failure of Market Reform

Urban schools are falling short of preparing students for college.

In Left Behind, a team of education scholars led by Edward P. St. John argues that American cities have been engaged for the past three decades in a radical―but failing―effort to transform general and vocational high schools into college preparatory institutions. By examining the educational reforms in four urban charter schools across the United States and four public high schools in New York City, Left Behind reveals how educators contend with the challenge of developing new courses while providing social support for students to build college-going cultures.

The research shows that district schools struggle to comply with standards that leave little room to develop advanced thematic curricula and that charter schools have not succeeded in substantially raising student test scores. Many students who start in rigorous charter schools transfer back to public schools while both public and charter schools struggle to prepare their students for college-level work.

Left Behind provides crucial insights into the troubling trajectory of public policy while offering teachers and administrators effective strategies for overcoming barriers.

Edward P. St. John is the Algo D. Henderson Collegiate Professor in the School of Education, University of Michigan. St. John is a fellow of the American Educational Research Association and recipient of awards from other associations for his scholarship on education and social justice.

Victoria J. Milazzo Bigelow is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan.

Kim Callahan Lijana received her PhD from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan.

Johanna C. Massé is a doctoral candidate in higher education and sociology at the University of Michigan.