Recent studies on educational effectiveness in the United States have criticized deficiencies of the educational system, rather than acknowledging its achievements. The eight characteristics of excellent schools described in "Search for Excellence" by Peters and Waterman (1982) provide a comparative framework for an assessment of organizational characteristics of nine public schools that have received the Award of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Education. The findings indicate that excellent schools are characterized by action; student, parent, teacher, and community involvement; productivity through people; utilization of incentives based on value consensus; functions concentrated within the scope of education; reduced administrative personnel; and simultaneous implementation of structural and interpersonal processes. The major conclusion is that excellence does exist in the U.S. educational system. (LMI)