Examines the effects of middle school organizational structure on students' interracial and cross-sex communication patterns emphasizing Allport's contact theory, i.e., does structure affect the frequency with which students talk to other-race classmates? Indicates schools can structure curricula to improve majority-minority interactions.…

Analyzes research which provides strong evidence indicating higher achievement in vocabulary and mathematics for comparable students in Catholic and other private schools than in public schools. The results are less consistent in reading. The analysis also shows the elements of school policy that can account for these differences. (RM)