WWC review of this study

Staying on Track: Testing Higher Achievement's Long-Term Impact on Academic Outcomes and High School Choice

Herrera, Carla; Grossman, Jean Baldwin; Linden, Leigh L. (2013). MDRC. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED545471

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    815
     Students
    , grades
    5-8

Reviewed: February 2016

At least one finding shows strong evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
Comprehension outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

SAT-10: Reading Comprehension

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 2

Pooled cohorts;
776 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
3
 

SAT-10: Reading Comprehension

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
2
 

SAT-10: Reading Comprehension

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 1

Pooled cohorts;
815 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
1
 
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

SAT-10: Mathematics Problem Solving

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 2

Pooled cohorts;
776 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
4
 

SAT-10: Mathematics Problem Solving

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
4
 

SAT-10: Mathematics Problem Solving

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 1

Pooled cohorts;
815 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
1
 
Progressing in school outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

High school matriculation- private

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.15

0.09

Yes

 
 
14

High school admission- private

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.21

0.14

Yes

 
 
12

High school application- private

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.27

0.21

Yes

 
 
8

High school matriculation- neighborhood public

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.40

0.35

Yes

 
 
5

High school application- competitive public charter/magnet

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.54

0.55

Yes

-1
 
 

High school admission- competitive public charter/magnet

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.46

0.49

Yes

-3
 
 

High school matriculation- competitive public charter/magnet

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.39

0.43

Yes

-4
 
 

High school application- noncompetitive public charter/magnet

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.14

0.22

Yes

-13
 
 

High school admission- noncompetitive public charter/magnet

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.10

0.16

Yes

-13
 
 

High school matriculation- noncompetitive public charter/magnet

Higher Achievement vs. None

Year 4

Pooled cohorts;
719 students

0.06

0.13

Yes

-19
 
 


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 59%
    Male: 41%

  • Urban
    • B
    • A
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • I
    • H
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • P
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • V
    • U
    • T
    • W
    • X
    • Z
    • Y
    • a
    • h
    • i
    • b
    • d
    • e
    • f
    • c
    • g
    • j
    • k
    • l
    • m
    • n
    • o
    • p
    • q
    • r
    • s
    • t
    • u
    • x
    • w
    • y

    District of Columbia, Virginia
  • Race
    Black
    75%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    13%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    87%

Reviewed: April 2014

At least one finding shows strong evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
Comprehension outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Abbreviated SAT-10: Reading

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
2
 
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Abbreviated SAT-10: Math

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
4
 
Progressing in school outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Matriculation at private school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
14

Admission to private school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
12

Application to private school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
8

Matriculation at neigbhorhood public high school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
5

Application to competitive public charter/magnet school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

-1
 
 

Admission to competitive public charter/magnet school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

-3
 
 

Matriculation at competitive public charter/magnet school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

-4
 
 

Application to noncompetitive public charter/magnet school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

-13
 
 

Admission to noncompetitive public charter/magnet school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

-13
 
 

Matriculation at noncompetitive public charter/magnet school

Higher Achievement vs. Comparison students did not participate in Higher Achievement

Posttest

Year 4 participants;
719 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

-19
 
 


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 59%
    Male: 41%

  • Urban
    • B
    • A
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • I
    • H
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • P
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • V
    • U
    • T
    • W
    • X
    • Z
    • Y
    • a
    • h
    • i
    • b
    • d
    • e
    • f
    • c
    • g
    • j
    • k
    • l
    • m
    • n
    • o
    • p
    • q
    • r
    • s
    • t
    • u
    • x
    • w
    • y

    District of Columbia, Virginia
  • Race
    Black
    75%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    13%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    87%

In the case of multiple manuscripts that report on one study, the WWC selects one manuscript as the primary citation and lists other manuscripts that describe the study as additional sources.

  • Linden, L. L., Herrera, C., & Grossman, J. B. (2013). Achieving academic success after school: A randomized evaluation of the Higher Achievement program (Working Paper). Retrieved from http://www.leighlinden.com

 

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