This study focuses on the impact of high-performance work systems on the outcomes of organizational effectiveness with the mediating roles of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. In light of the importance of human resource activities in achieving organizational effectiveness, we argue that higher employees' decision-making capabilities directly and indirectly empower organizational effectiveness. The reward system indirectly diminishes organizational effectiveness through the mediating effect of organizational commitment. We test these arguments using a sample of 332 Malaysian secondary school teachers. Provisions of secondary school infrastructure and material support alone will be meaningless without effective high-performance work systems and management capable of generating quality teaching and learning. The results identify the critical characteristics of high-performance work systems to realize school effectiveness.