This book offers a comprehensive guide to the Career Academy high school model, including detailed descriptions of the model, practical advice, case histories, histories of existing programs, evaluation results, and an analysis of the model in the context of other research and policy analysis. Part 1 of 3 gives an overview of the dilemmas and circumstances that gave birth to the career academies. Chapter 1 discusses persistent problems in American high schools. Chapter 2 presents the career academy model in detail. Chapter 3 covers the evolution of the academies in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) and California and describes a nationwide network. The results of several evaluations of academies are summarized in chapter 4. Part 2 explains how to create a career academy based on the California model. Chapter 5 lays out the tasks involved, lists potential problems, and offers principles for guidance. Chapter 6 focuses on procedures for building the crucial partnership between schools and employers. Portraits of academy programs in four California school districts are presented in Chapter 7. Part 3 considers the future. Chapter 8 highlights the Carl D. Perkins Act of 1990, which provides some support for starting and maintaining career academies. An appendix contains the text of the Senate bill (S.B. 605, 1987) concerning partnership academies. Contains 86 references. (JB)