Back in print for use in your courses, this classic text features a new introduction by the author that situates the book in the context of present-day educational debates. This historic study analyzes the organizational and political pressures that combined to make three magnet schools distinctive social environments, a rare glimpse at the critical processes with which teachers and students in both "regular" schools and schools of choice must constantly struggle. In her new introduction, Metz discusses many of today's hot topics, including school choice, curricular reform, and school equity. She also looks at what has transpired in the school district and the schools since her study was first published two decades ago. The depth of detail in these case studies, along with the clear and systematic discussion of each school in terms of the theoretical framework provided by the author, make this a sought-after textbook for educational policy and school organization courses.