Abstract: | The historical evidence is examined to see how low-income students have fared in the urban public schools. Research shows that some schools have been able to raise low-income student achievement. In Rutter's 7-year study, leadership of the principal, high teacher expectations, and rigorous academic programs helped raise achievement. While some results have shown that a majority of low-income students have failed, some immigrant groups, such as Jews, seem to adapt more readily and perform better. The implication is that there may be hope for a substantial improvement in the urban public schools. |