The authors provide an instructional guide to evaluating public high schools utilizing school effectiveness research and statistical educational data. The historical background of public high schools in the United States includes the fundamental purposes of a public high school education and a discussion of the current educational trends at the high school level. A comprehensive synthesis of the effective schools literature is summarized with recommended categories to consider when assessing the effectiveness of a school.

The work includes a guide to the identification and effective use of sources for educational data. An extensive, practical guide to on-site school assessment includes suggested questions and observations to make during an assessment process. Three case studies further demonstrate the assessment process. The reference work is intended for parents seeking a good high school for their children, educators (including teacher educators, principals, teachers, and others wishing to improve their schools), and citizens who are interested in promoting education's position within our society.