[3] Around 2000, few Lake View parents enrolled their children in Nettelhorst and the school had low test scores.

[3] The parental group advertised Nettelhorst, beautified the campus, and organized committees to address specific aspects of the school.

[5] By 2003 CPS chose Nettelhorst to become a "community school" in an effort to lure families back to CPS, and a community enrichment class program called Jane's Place, as part of a partnership with the Jane Addams Hull House Association, opened at Nettelhorst.

[6] By 2009 families moved to Nettelhorst's attendance zone for the express purpose of enrolling their children there, and the school's academic performance had improved significantly.

The authors argued that the manner of grassroot-style fundraising and activism for Nettelhorst may be used to improve other American schools.

[8] One classroom has a 1940 mural done by Ethel Spears and commissioned by the Works Progress Administration, Horses from Literature.