Data, democracy and school accountability: Controversy over school evaluation in the case of DeVasco High School

What is it about?

The City of New York set out to evaluate school performance. I examined these efforts at one school. I found that the city's evaluation system made new aspects of the work that goes on inside schools apparent to the public. At the same time, this system made other realities invisible to the public, especially the role that the city played in shaping school success. This article explores the politics of transparency and opacity at one school through a detailed case study.

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Why is it important?

This article shows that making an organization or entity 'transparent' to an outside observer is a selective and political process. Based on the case study, this article makes recommendations for making this process more fair and honest.