This report describes and analyzes the progress of an ambitious school improvement initiative in New York City's vocational high schools. In response to the need to implement new state-mandated higher academic standards for all students, the New York City Board of Education contracted with Civic Strategies, a Boston-based non-profit firm, to carry out a vocational school improvement effort for two years. In September 1998, Civic Strategies began implementing its three-step model of school improvement: school needs assessment and staff buy-in, development of school-specific improvement plans, and delivery of tailored professional development activities. This report is not so much a strict evaluation of the initiative as it is a description of the process by which Civic Strategies approaches whole-school improvement, with examples of some specific interventions and resulting changes. We review the effort from the starting date through the summer of 2000, with limited follow-up of activities through winter 2001.