This report discusses findings from a comprehensive national survey of the effectiveness of magnet schools in improving the quality of public education and in assisting school desegregation. Chapter I provides background information on the concept and evolution of magnet schools; discusses the purposes of the national survey and several issues identified by the National Commission on Excellence in Education; and explains the scope and objectives of the survey and final report. Chapter II explains the research design, research issues, and comparative case study methodology and describes the sampling plan and the selected sample of urban school districts. Chapters III, IV, V, and VI report study findings on the major research questions: education quality; magnet schools' effect on desegregation; magnet school costs; and the role of magnet schools in urban education and in meeting urban education problems, particularly the relationship between district leadership/community involvement and the effectiveness of a magnet program. Chapter VII summarizes all the findings and outlines the policy options for magnet school programs. Appendices contain a summary of survey methodology and sampling procedures; summaries of sample district community settings and characteristics of magnet schools nationwide; data on quality of education, desegregation, cost data collection, and magnet schools' relationship to urban school districts and communities; and program summaries of quality magnet schools. (CMG)