ABSTRACT
The Wadleigh Complex in Harlem - the nation's most famous African-American community opened in the Fall of 1993 with high expectations: a set of three middle schools and one incipient high school, all housed in a single building. The grand day had been several years in the making, and in excess of $38 million had been invested in renovating the building and the school's programme and organization. The effort had involved considerable external support - including that of then-Governor Cuomo and Congressman Rangel - as well as political help from within New York City. Large numbers of people had worked on the 'New Wadleigh' - a school district-community task force and three teams of teachers, each with its own separate, hardworking advisory committee.
