In this article, the author describes the four characteristics of effective middle schools: (1) Academic excellence; (2) Developmental responsiveness; (3) Social equity; and (4) Organizational Structure. An effective middle school should be a place of learning guided by people who have chosen to work with young adolescents, help them develop positive attitudes about lifelong learning, help them forge their own identities, help them succeed academically and socially, and help them find their place in a world that neither cherishes them nor protects them.