S. Zellman (personal communication, September 16, 2003), Ohio's superintendent of public instruction, stated, "Students in Ohio's urban high schools demonstrate serious shortcomings in their academic performance." Hence, this ex post facto study, which used pre-existing data, sought to investigate if a statistical difference between the Ohio High School Transformation Initiative (OHSTI) and urban high school success indicators existed. The sample for this study was a cohort of Ohio high schools that was accepted into the OHSTI in the fall of 2004. Overall, OHSTI demonstrated a statistical difference in the graduation rates, 10th grade Reading OGT scores, 10 th grade math OGT scores, and teacher attrition. At the same time, OHSTI narrowed the achievement gap or trended with the state of Ohio in the areas of attendance, sub-group 10th grade Reading OGT scores, sub-group math OGT scores, and sub-group 11th grade Reading OGT scores. Two new concepts emerged from the research that could impact smaller learning communities (SLC) in urban high schools. The two new concepts were a small cellular school manufacturing model and urban high school success indicators. First, a small cellular school model based on a cellular manufacturing model combines the best practices from education and manufacturing to create higher academic output. Second, this study identified certain areas of achievement in urban high schools called large urban high school success indicators. Each of the large urban high school success indicators is important to the smaller learning community movement. [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://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]