Granger (Washington) High School principal Richard Esparza grew up working in the fields, determined to have a better life. Now he is helping his students to excel, by setting high standards and reorganizing the school. Included: How a principal's influence helped a school.

Courtesy of The Achievement Alliance

About one-third of Granger (Washington) High School's 330 or so students are the children of migrant agricultural workers, but most of the permanent families are agricultural workers who have settled in the Yakima Valley to pick and sort apples and other crops. About 82 percent are Latino, 6 percent are Native American, and the rest white.

Not long ago, student achievement was dismal. Only 20 percent of the school's students met state reading standards in 2001; 4 percent met state math standards; and 10.8 percent met state writing standardsDiscipline and attendance were serious problems which spilled over into the town

Six years after principal Richard Esparza arriveddiscipline is much less of an issue and academic achievement has improved substantially.

To read the full story, see It's Being Done: Granger High School, Washington

SOURCE

The Achievement Alliance