Describes the importance of school culture and its relationship to school climate. Summarizes research about the key features of school culture and climate, their links to student performance, and the principal's role in improving school climate and culture. (LMI)

Building teacher morale involves more than compliments, plaques, and one-time events. Teacher morale is higher in schools where principals create a positive school culture and climate. Sinking teacher morale generally accompanies sinking student achievement. Time constraints, excessive workloads, and insufficient classroom resources take their…

Typically, high performing schools are those with high test scores. Affluent students generally have higher scores than poorer students. True high performing schools require students to take rigorous courses, hire extremely competent teachers, and for teachers to know every student well. They use their limited funds efficiently to improve teaching…