This study examines educators' lived and professional experiences as those who have been ranked "highly effective" teachers based on the Danielson Framework and their choice to remain in urban lower-performing schools in New York City Public Schools. For the context of this study, urban lower-performing schools are schools categorized as both Title I schools and schools whose standardized state exam scores are below state and city passing rates. Historically, the quality of education has been disproportionately delivered in schools across America directly impacting the academic success of Black and Latinx students. Schools in affluent areas receive more resources, including teaching materials, and provide extracurricular activities and specialized courses. For this study, highly effective teachers are defined by the Danielson Framework, a teacher rating system used in most New York State schools (see Appendix F). This study utilized the visual learning concept of John Hattie to conceptualize the reasons that highly effective teachers remain in urban lower-performing schools. I reviewed the history, demographics, and data of traditional public schools and teachers as well as the problem of retention and reasons effective teachers remain in urban, lower-performing schools. I interviewed 10 teachers who currently work in a lower-performing public school in New York City and who were ranked by supervisors as highly effective based on rubrics employing the Danielson Framework. Based on the interviews, I identified common themes and shared experiences, examined factors that impacted the retention of a teacher, and provided recommendations for how lower-performing public schools can improve their teacher retention practices. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]