NCLB Transfer Policy Seen as Flawed

The Portland, Ore., school system is far outpacing most urban districts in eligible students transferring to higher-rated public schools under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. And Paul A. Cook is not 100 percent comfortable with that.

The principal of Cleveland High School says the roughly 30 NCLB transfers that his 1,400-student school has attracted over the past two school years have not been a problem. It’s just that the last thing he wants is to harm struggling schools in Portland or poach on his fellow principals’ turf.

“That’s my biggest concern,” Mr. Cook said. “I want to support the rest of the schools as well as the...