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Fairdale High School is located in the Jefferson County School District in Jefferson County, Kentucky, which includes the city of Louisville. Fairdale is a community just outside of Louisville, and the high school's 1200 students are either local residents of Fairdale or are bussed (30% of the student body) from downtown Louisville (17 miles away). Fairdale H. S. has been committed to a process of self-study and school reform since 1986 when it became a Professional Development School. The school contains a Magnet Career Academy with a program in Public Safety Technology. This allows students to explore career opportunities in law enforcement, fire-fighting, and emergency medical technology. Fairdale has been a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools since 1988. Programs are designed to promote academic achievement, intellectual growth, and enhanced self-esteem through rigor and personalized instruction. Whittier High School is situated 25 miles east of Los Angeles, California, and serves approximately 1800 students from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds. All students live in the community and about 75% are Hispanic, 20% Anglo and the remaining 5% are Black, Asian or American Indian. Whittier has been a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools for several years. The school community is committed to maximizing student potential by first establishing high expectations and then applying a variety of assessment and accountability models. Teachers at Whittier are encouraged to grow professionally through collaboration, membership in Critical Friends Groups, and training in the use of educational technology.