Compton students recently spent several days exploring opportunities on their academic career paths. At left, Roosevelt Middle School seventh-grader Natachi Onwudiwe, who said she wants to be either a science teacher go to medical school, won first place in the Compton Unified School District science fair with her project Soil Pit to the Rescue. It demonstrated the effect of acidity on soil and plant growth. At right, youngsters from the Kelly Elementary School band and orchestra warm up before a performance at the Arts and Aviation Career Expo.

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles Unified School District needs critical reform in teacher evaluation, tenure and teaching assignment policies, according to a national study of the district released today.

The National Council on Teacher Quality, a nonpartisan, privately funded research organization based in Washington, D.C., studied five key policy areas—staffing, evaluations, tenure, compensation and work schedule.