<![CDATA[This study aims to uncover, understand, and compare principals' strategies in implementing programs to realize effective schools at two private junior high schools in Bojonegoro Regency, namely SMP Plus Ar Rahmat and SMP Muhammadiyah 9 Bojonegoro. This study employed a qualitative approach using a multi-site study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with the principals as key informants, participatory observation, and documentation study, then analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model through within-site and cross-site analysis. The findings show that both principals implemented their programs through structured stages of planning, socialization, execution, and evaluation, albeit with different emphases according to each institution's characteristics. SMP Plus Ar Rahmat emphasized direct exemplary leadership, habituation, and the involvement of students' guardians in strengthening religious culture, whereas SMP Muhammadiyah 9 Bojonegoro emphasized institutional synergy with its parent organization and a scheduled supervision system. Both strategies were shown to drive the achievement of effective-school indicators, including graduation rates, academic achievement, extracurricular participation, non-academic achievements, and high parental satisfaction. The study concludes that effective leadership strategies are contextual, adaptive to institutional characteristics, and cannot be generalized into a single model. Keywords: principal's strategy; program implementation; effective school; private junior high school; multi-site study]]>
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