A Leadership Change. A Culture Shift...and a Police Riot: The Story of How the Highest College Going High School in San Francisco Became the Lowest Graduating School in the District

Author

Emmanuel PadillaFollow

Date of Graduation

Spring 5-15-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Organization and Leadership (O&L)

College/School

School of Education

Department/Program

Education

First Advisor

Darrick Smith

Abstract

Thurgood Marshall Academic High School, located in San Francisco’s Bayview, Hunters Point, scored the third lowest in the most recent Academic Performance Index (API) Report. Based on the median household income, the Bayview is a low-income community and according to San Francisco data, is a high crime neighborhood. The odds are against Marshall to provide exceptional service to their students, but it once did. In 2001, Marshall had the highest college-going rate in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Today, only 20% of its student body would be considered college ready. This study will look into what happened to Marshall. Specifically, what factors lead to Marshall losing its college-going culture and underperforming. Research shows that schools, similar to Marshall, are not supposed to work. Well, Marshall was working, and based on the efforts of SFUSD, which included lowering graduation requirements and not renewing the contract of the Principal, Marshall is today, one of the lowest performing schools in San Francisco.

Recommended Citation

Padilla, Emmanuel, "A Leadership Change. A Culture Shift...and a Police Riot: The Story of How the Highest College Going High School in San Francisco Became the Lowest Graduating School in the District" (2020). Master's Theses. 1312.
https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/1312