With the demands on schools to prepare its students to be globally competitive in the 21st century, schools are forced to examine new ways to meet those demands. One of the new reform ideas is that of restructuring traditional high schools into small schools within schools. Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the North Carolina Schools Project, school systems in North Carolina can apply for grants to convert their traditional high schools with a themed curriculum based on the needs of the students. These converted high schools design a curriculum to help prepare students for college and the work force after high school graduation. The purpose of this study is to examine three rural high schools in North Carolina that have restructured into smaller schools within schools with a themed curriculum for its students. This study looked at challenges that arise at the school level that may prohibit these schools from meeting their stated goals and objectives and from meeting the needs of their students. Using a qualitative case study design, the researcher interviewed the building level administrators and the teachers. The administrators also completed a closed-ended survey and the researcher recorded observational field notes. This data revealed challenges and obstacles that face these high schools that have restructured. This study will help those in these school systems and other districts similar to it when it comes to the issue of restructuring their high schools as an option to school reform to meet the needs of their students to be globally competitive in the 21st century. [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.]