academic achievement

"... Rawlinson draws on thirty years of experience as a teacher, school counselor, and district administrator as she explores ten phenomena that will help other educators understand the ways in which living in poverty has the potential to shape a child's mind..."--Back cover.

Documents education reporter Kristina Rizga's four-year investigation into the education provided by Mission High School in San Francisco, in which she reports that the students are thriving and continuing on to college in high numbers in spite of the "failing grade" the school has been given because of low scores on standardized tests.

Examines the controversies surrounding "high-stakes" testing that can deny students promotion to the next grade or graduation, and affect a school's funding. Presents a brief history of testing in America and then describes how these tests discriminate against poor, minority children.

Provides an insider's account of the Chinese school system, revealing the secrets that make it both the best and worst in the world, discussing that despite turning out the world's highest-achieving students in reading, math, and science, Chinese educators, parents, and political leaders hate the system and long to send their kids to western schools; and discusses how current reforms in the United States parallel the classic Chinese system.

Explores the topic of digital footprints in the academic world, providing advice how to maintain a positive digital presence as a student using social media websites and other online resources.

Proposes supporting struggling students through acceleration, and lays out a plan for moving underperforming students in the right direction with eight research-based instructional approaches.