Joanne Jacobs' much-anticipated book on charter schools, Our School: The Inspiring Story of Two Teachers, One Big Idea and the School That Beat the Odds, is now out. Joanne's book centers on Downtown College Prep, a San Jose charter school that has has remarkable success preparing disadvantaged teenagers for college. Joanne writes:

It really is an inspiring story. The average Downtown College Prep student comes from a Mexican immigrant family and enters ninth grade reading at a fifth grade level; 100 percent of graduates have been accepted at four-year colleges and 97 percent are on track to earn a bachelor's degree. DCP now scores well above the state average on the Academic Performance Index, ranking in the top third compared to all high schools, including affluent suburban schools. DCP follows what I call the work-your-butt-off philosophy of education. Its leaders analyze what's not working, adapt quickly and waste no time on esteem inflation or excuses.

While I discuss the charter school movement as a whole, Our School isn't written for wonks. I think it's a good read, sort of Tracy Kidder meets Up the Down Staircase.

Go Joanne!