The purpose of this study was to identify and investigate the effective leadership
strategies used by principals of low socioeconomic status high schools that have demonstrated
sustained academic improvement. Moreover, this study sought to examine 1) the successful
instructional and operational strategies employed by principals of low socioeconomic status high
schools resulting in sustained academic improvement, 2) the support principals provide for the
staff in implementing instructional and operational strategies to improve African-American and
Latino student achievement, 3) support provided to high school principals by the central office to
implement the selected strategies, and 4) the manner in which principals evaluate the success of
instructional and operational strategies they implemented to improve and sustain AfricanAmerican
and Latino student achievement. This study consisted of a mixed-methods approach
in which four (4) high school principals participated in a structured interview using twelve (12)
open-ended questions. Additionally, teachers, staff, and other stakeholders from the four (4)
selected high schools completed a 50-question online survey to gain more information in order to
answer the research questions. Each principal interviewed provided descriptive details of the best
instructional and operational practices s/he employed at his/her respective schools. Upon
analyzing the data collected from the interviews and surveys, emergent themes were discovered
in terms of the best instructional and operational practices, the high priority given by central
office personnel to assist each principal in employment of their selected best practices, and the
positive outcome of African-American and Latino student achievement. Hence, this study
provides valuable information, insight, and optimism in that the correct utilization of effective
leadership practices can lead to closing the achievement gap for African-American and Latino
students.