Kiara, an African American rising freshman, has aspirations to become a medical doctor. She enrolls at Birch High School because of the reputation of the principal, Mr. Brown, whose vision for academic excellence permeates every corner of the school. Kiara graduates from high school with top honors, but realizes her success may have come at a steep price. By using “snapshots” of five critical aspects of the school culture at Birch, this case study invites readers to consider the ways schools may foster academic success for some students of color, but at what cost?
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