Many students who enter college do not finish, reflecting numerous academic, financial, and social barriers to postsecondary completion. Success Boston Coaching (SBC) provides students in the Greater Boston area with coaching during their first 2 years of college to help them overcome barriers to postsecondary completion and connect them to…

This cross-sectional, observational study examined how school-level academic performance and enrollment in the physical sciences (Earth science, chemistry, and physics) mediate the predictive value of socioeconomic status on graduation rate in U.S. high schools. Data were collected from N = 555 schools (475,539 students) that reported enrollment…

Dropping out of high school creates barriers to economic self-sufficiency. Career and technical education (CTE) may help students engage with school by showing the connection between school and work. Prior research has shown that high school CTE participation promotes positive academic outcomes including high school graduation. This paper uses a…

Background: As urban school districts have increasingly adopted "early warning indicators" such as the ninth-grade on-track measure to identify students who may need additional support, it is crucial to assess the effectiveness of this measure in predicting high school graduation. While there is considerable research on these indicators'…

On January 9, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) released high school graduation rates for the State of Florida and the School District of Palm Beach County. The fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Federal High School Graduation Rate includes standard diplomas but excludes special diplomas and General Education Diplomas (GEDs). Students with…

Researchers increasingly have access to two types of data: (i) large observational datasets where treatment (e.g., class size) is not randomized but several primary outcomes (e.g., graduation rates) and secondary outcomes (e.g., test scores) are observed and (ii) experimental data in which treatment is randomized but only secondary outcomes are…

This research investigated how registered training organisations (RTOs) could better support the needs of students throughout their learner journey for them to succeed in their training. The research identified six key characteristics of effective student support, when and how support needs are identified and provided to students through their…

In November 2024, the New York State Board of Regents issued the "Vision to Transform New York State Graduation Requirements," a plan for high school education reform. To understand the context for this reform, this issue brief discusses New York's levels of student performance and state education spending, as well as a brief history of…

This study examines the influence of Black faculty representation on the graduation rates of Black students, with a particular focus on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Although HBCUs are only a small fraction of U.S. higher education institutions, they play an outsized role in the academic and economic success of Black…

As Federal and State governments have prioritized a college completion agenda, there is an increased emphasis on graduation rates as a key measure of student success. Rising tuition costs and skepticism about the return on investment in higher education have driven initiatives like the Complete College agenda and evolving funding formulas. As…

People's quality of life and opportunities for activity are influenced by their surrounding environments. A substantial body of literature on the positive effects of nature and greenery has emerged during the last 50 years. Additional research has focused on other types of environmental qualities. While some Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs)…

This study explores the association between having a transit stop within walking distance of campus and Pell Grant recipient completion rates at US commuter institutions, using a novel dataset on transit stop locations and institutional level data. The findings indicate that there is a positive association between transit access and Pell…

Obtaining a degree from a community college is a strong pathway to numerous career opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds. Unfortunately, graduation rates from community colleges are often very low, so many students do not reap the benefits of a degree. With the goal of increasing graduation rates, three community colleges in…

The observed decline in academic performance among 15-year-old students, as reported by recent OECD-PISA surveys, alongside the democratisation of university admissions, points to a potential decrease in the marginal academic proficiency of incoming higher education students. Paradoxically, grades at the tertiary level have either remained stable…

California defines college and career readiness broadly. Almost four in five students are not academically prepared for college success. Trends in college preparatory course-taking show promise. Strong high school graduation rates may not reflect college readiness. Demand for college is high but preparing students requires collaboration. This fact…