"This book offers a view of today's high school students and the ways they pursue high grades and success. Denise Clark Pope, veteran teacher and curriculum expert, follows five motivated and successful students through a school year, closely shadowing them and engaging them in lengthy reflections on their school experiences. What emerges is a double-sided picture of school success.

On the one hand, these students work hard in school, participate in extracurricular activites, serve their communities, earn awards and honors, and appear to uphold school values. But on the other hand, they feel that in order to get ahead they must compromise their values and manipulate the system by scheming, lying, and cheating. In short, they "do school" - that is, they are not really engaged with learning nor can they commit to such values as integrity and community."--BOOK JACKET.