This monograph describes 12 urban middle schools in 5 school systems as they work to apply the characteristics of successful communities to education. In some of these schools, racial segregation has been and continues to be a major feature. The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation (New York) has awarded grants of $400,000 each to school systems in: (1) Baltimore (Maryland); (2) Louisville (Kentucky); (3) Milwaukee (Wisconsin); (4) Oakland (California); and (5) San Diego (California). Schools were selected because of their readiness to embrace middle school reform. This report represents an independent observer's view of the progress and problems of the reform effort in these ongoing projects. Project descriptions include profiles of the individual schools, administrators, and teachers who are making reform work. A look at these schools confirms that each school's effort is unique, but that making the school child-centered is essential. Many students in these schools responded to the higher expectations, content, and support generated by the initiatives. Central offices developed new ways of working with schools as the programs progressed and some schools began to offer leadership to others in their systems. Schools and communities learned to work together to benefit students. A better future for these urban students depends on the will to change by each school and within each teacher. Included are a 40-item bibliography and a 36-item list of resource organizations. (SLD)