Urban Education

Learn more about urban schools and districts, including research and polices that affect city schools
School & District Management Longtime Miami Superintendent, Who Almost Left for N.Y.C., Chosen as Urban Superintendent of the Year
ALberto Carvalho has led the Miami-Dade school system for the last 10 years, but he made headlines earlier this year when he accepted the chancellor job in New York City and later backed out.
Denisa R. Superville, October 26, 2018
2 min read
School & District Management Billionaire Elon Musk Donates $480K to Help Flint Schools Deal With Water Crisis
The donation comes as Flint city and school leaders continue to grapple with the fallout from a contaminated-water crisis that began in 2015. The filtration systems, which will be installed by January, should allow students to once again district students and staff to drink from and fill up water bottles.
Corey Mitchell, October 8, 2018
1 min read
School & District Management Report Roundup School Design
Maybe the grass really is greener for high-achieving, high-poverty schools. A new study in the journal Frontiers in Psychology finds a link between academic achievement and tree cover in high-poverty Chicago schools.
Sarah D. Sparks, October 2, 2018
1 min read
Julie Latessa sings to students in a summer learning program in Providence, R.I., earlier this summer. The program is part of coordinated efforts between the city and school district to boost students’ academic performance and overall well-being.
Julie Latessa sings to students in a summer learning program in Providence, R.I., earlier this summer. The program is part of coordinated efforts between the city and school district to boost students’ academic performance and overall well-being.
Gretchen Ertl for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement In Some Cities, Closing Achievement Gaps Is Not for Schools to Fix Alone
Some cities are closely partnering with their school districts to provide an array of academic, health, and behavioral services to raise the odds that poor children are successful.
Denisa R. Superville, September 11, 2018
15 min read
School & District Management Denver Superintendent to Step Down After Nearly a Decade. Will the District's Progress Continue?
Tom Boasberg led Denver's public schools through a period that saw an increase in graduation and college-going rates, charter-district collaboration, and improved performance of its English-learners.
Denisa R. Superville, July 17, 2018
3 min read
Students from Cohen College Prep Academy in New Orleans celebrate their acceptance to college during a Declaration Day parade.
Members of the 2015 graduating class of New Orleans' Cohen College Prep celebrate their college acceptances.
Swikar Patel/Education Week
Standards & Accountability Did the Charter Takeover Improve New Orleans' Schools?
The performance of schools in post-Katrina New Orleans has been a well-scrutinized experiment, with champions and critics of charter schools closely monitoring the results.
Corey Mitchell, July 17, 2018
4 min read
School & District Management Chicago Pledges $26 Million to Add Social Workers, Special Education Staff
The Chicago Teachers Union, which has called on the district to increase the number of school nurses, psychologists, social workers, and case managers, said the school system's announcement does not go far enough.
Denisa R. Superville, July 16, 2018
2 min read
Teacher Preparation Principals Say Coaching, Not Compliance, Is What They Need From Central Office
A new Vanderbilt University study on the Wallace Foundation's $24 million Principal Supervisor Initiative in six urban districts found bright spots as well as continuing challenges.
Denisa R. Superville, July 10, 2018
7 min read
School & District Management Report Roundup School Closures
The largest school closure to date hurt learning among affected students, finds a new report by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research.
Sasha Jones, June 5, 2018
1 min read
School & District Management How Long Do Big-City Superintendents Actually Last?
An oft-cited misconception of the longevity of urban schools chiefs is being debunked by a new look at the data on superintendent tenure.
Denisa R. Superville, May 15, 2018
7 min read
School & District Management How Good Principals Improve Student Learning (Video)
Principals are a critical link between supporting teachers and student outcomes. Education Week explores some of the methods principals can utilize to help their students succeed.
Mike Bock, May 10, 2018
1 min read
School & District Management How Long Do Big-City Superintendents Typically Stick Around?
Tenures, on average, are shorter in larger districts and in districts with high percentages of students of color and low-income students. Women also had tenures that were 15 months shorter, on average, than their male counterparts, according to the Broad Center.
6 min read
States Same Names, Different District: Why Superintendent Searches Can Be a Game of Musical Chairs
Central office staffers—like chief academic officers, deputy superintendents, and curriculum directors—face hurdles making the jump to the top job.
7 min read
School & District Management Canadian Teachers Share 9 Ways They Support English-Learners
Canadian teachers use a variety of methods to teach ELL and refugee children to read and write in English, with remarkable success.
Mike Bock, May 4, 2018
1 min read