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"Beating the odds" is a term that is used to identify schools that are doing better than expected. RELs work in partnership with states and districts to 1) conduct original high quality research, 2) provide training, coaching, and technical support, and 3) disseminate high quality research findings on "beating the odds" schools A selected list of resources developed by the REL Program appears below.

Publications

• Beating the Odds in Mississippi: Identifying Schools Exceeding Achievement Expectations (REL Southeast, February, 2017). The purpose of this report was to determine which Mississippi public schools perform better than could be predicted, considering demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Beating the Odds in South Carolina Charter Schools: Identifying Schools Exceeding Expectations (REL Southeast, February 2017). The purpose of this report was to determine which South Carolina charter schools performed better than could be predicted, considering demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Identifying Beating-the-Odds Schools in Puerto Rico (REL Northeast and Islands, December 2016). This study will identify schools that consistently perform well across these measures and over time; that is, schools with consistently high graduation rates and strong academic performance over multiple years.
• Decision Points and Considerations for Identifying Rural Districts that Have Closed Student Achievement Gaps (REL Central, April 2016). This research brief outlines key decision points and considerations for state and district decisionmakers who wish to identify rural districts that have closed academic achievement gaps.
• How Methodology Decisions Affect the Variability of Schools Identified as Beating the Odds: (REL Midwest, February 2015). The purpose of this study was to examine how a list of beating the odds schools might change depending on the methodological choices and selection of indicators used in the identification process.
• Beating the Odds: Finding Schools Exceeding Achievement Expectations with High-Risk Students (REL Southeast, May 2014). This study used longitudinal data to determine which schools are exceeding student achievement expectations, and what demographic similarities exist between schools that are exceeding expectations and other schools.

Archived Webinars

• Schools Beating the Odds: Implications for Research and Practice (REL Northeast and Islands, December 7, 2016) "Beating the Odds" schools demonstrate better academic outcomes for students at risk of not graduating when compared with schools that serve similar populations. During this webinar, a team of panelists present current research on odds-beating schools in three REL Northeast & Islands jurisdictions: New York, Maine, and Puerto Rico.

Infographics

• Identification of "Beating the Odds" Schools Depends on the Statistical Method and Technical Specifications Used (REL Midwest)

For more resources in ERIC on the topic of Beating the Odds, click here.