Secondary schools in the United States have been changing with the increased arrival of refugee students with interrupted formal education (SIFE), especially at the secondary schools. Refugee SIFE are faced with barriers developing both language and academic skills. This article describes some of the findings of an ethnographic research study that…

Examines problems faced by immigrant students in the New York City public schools. Insight is provided into these educational problems through interviews with 20 students, 9 teachers, and 1 administrator in 2 city public high schools. Data suggest that students' desire to learn is not well supported by available resources. (SLD)