With Equity and Excellence for All

Abstract

Muirlands Middle School fits snugly into the side of a knoll rising up from the Pacific Ocean. mild weather, white beaches, and breathtaking waterscapes give cre dence to the community's name, La Jolla, The Jewel. area is home to the University of California at San Diego, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Salk Institute. hillsides are dotted with some of the most expensive homes in the San Diego area. ocean view serves as an idyllic back drop for a middle school. At first glance one might sup pose that a public school in such surroundings would be delivered from many of the hardships suffered by urban schools. That is not the case, however. Funds are short; classes are large; there is the ever-present concern about test scores. In addition, student diversity stretches from one end of the socioeconomic spectrum to the other. This is a story about reform, a case study, as seen through the eyes of the principal and sixth grade team, of one school's attempt to move from a tracking system which discriminated against students on the basis of test scores; and consequentially, discriminated against stu dents of color. Beginning with a handful of educators committed to academic excellence accessible to all, the movement toward student equity through heteroge neous grouping spread throughout this newly created middle school. Pedagogy changed as teachers struggled to incorporate new teaching practices which met the needs of all students without lowering the standards of academic excellence. A team culture developed which added the strength and support necessary to drive the commitment forward into territory not friendly to the concept of change. Collaboration between principal and faculty, based upon mutual respect, synchronized the reform efforts so that change moved forward at a faster pace. Students' investment in their own learning changed perceptibly; they began to see themselves as integral to the total classroom experience which was con structed to maximize their potential. quality of their work improved and test scores for all children rose.