Eminent school in street slightly tainted (4)
I believe the answer is:
high
I believe this clue is a quadruple definition!!
'eminent' is the first definition.
(I know that eminent can be written as high)
'school' is the second definition.
(high school is a kind of school)
'in' is a link.
'street' is the third definition.
(high street is a kind of street)
'slightly tainted' is the fourth definition.
(high can mean somewhat rotten)
(Other definitions for high that I've seen before include "Eminent; lofty" , "on a trip" , "(Of meat) slightly decomposed" , "Important, elevated" , "Tall - loud - under the influence of drugs" .)