In their own voices - An ethnographic study of low-achieving students within the context of school reform

The purpose of this ethnographic study was to investigate the causes of sch ool failure from a student perspective. Interviews were conducted with 40 s tudents who were experiencing academic difficulties in an urban high school undergoing reform into a science academy. Drawing on the innovative method ology employed by Farrell, Peguero, Lindsey, and White, this study used low -achieving students as collaborative researchers to conduct and analyze int erviews with their peers. interviewees revealed minimal, although significa nt, peer and home influences on their levels of achievement and focused pri marily on the impact of school structures. Students also discussed transfor mative influence that teachers have had art their lives, particularly when classrooms incorporated challenging curriculum and high expectations, inter active learning, and closer relationships with students. These findings mag nify, issues of power resistance, and diversity intricately linked to patte rns of student achievement that many urban schools must address before adva ncing specific restructuring efforts.