List of contributors. Introduction (A.M. Pallas). Reflections on the contributions of James S. Coleman (M.T. Hallinan). James S. Coleman and the purposes of schooling (A.M. Pallas). The Matthew Effect in American education (A.C. Kerckhoff). The changing American family and student achievement trends (M. Berends et al.). Engagement and achievement: differences between African-American and white high school students (B.A. Smerdon). To track or not to track? The social effects of gender and middle-school tracking (S. Catsambis et al.). Beyond the battle of the requirements: accommodation and motivation in adjustments in high school teachers' grading criteria (G. Natriello, J.M. McPartland). The effects of service participation on high school students' social responsibility (A.M.R. Power, V.T. Khmelkov). Teachers' affective goals and student outcomes (E.M. Allensworth, S.A. Kaplowitz). Labeling and letting go: a statistical analysis of how school students are discharged as dropouts (C. Riehl).