The United States must find ways to improve the quality of education for all its citizens, particularly those young people who are most at risk of failure. This document, the second of three volumes, contains detailed case-study data from 18 schools located across the United States. The case studies were conducted as part of a study that identified the essential mechanics of effective reforms for students at risk. The study also identified the incentives for and barriers to implementing and sustaining reforms and their effects on students. It focused on three aspects of school reforms: raising academic standards, enhancing the academic climate of schools and out-of-school environments, and preventing dropouts through the provision of second-chance programs. Each school profile contains a site overview of the context and program outcomes, a site description, a discussion of the existing elements of systemic support and high-resource-organizational (HRO) characteristics, an analysis of features that build community, and day-in-the-life student scenarios. Appendices contain an overview of programs and budgets for one school, the percentage of students passing "major" subjects at one school, a "three-column" Paideia School Illustration, a sample 1993 school report card, and an example of monthly outlays completed by a teaching staff. (LMI)