WWC review of this study

Stand and Deliver: Effects of Boston's Charter High Schools on College Preparation, Entry, and Choice

Angrist, Joshua D.; Cohodes, Sarah R.; Dynarski, Susan M.; Pathak, Parag A.; Walters, Christopher R. (2014). Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED562936

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    3,920
     Students
    , grades
    5-12

Reviewed: April 2016

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

SAT Composite score

Boston charter schools vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Students who took the SAT;
2,378 students

1372.50

1268.20

Yes

 
 
17
 

Received a score of 3 or higher on at least one Advanced Placement (AP) exam

Boston charter schools vs. Business as usual

4 Years

All students;
3,672 students

0.21

0.08

Yes

 
 
13
 
College and career preparation outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Took at least one AP exam

Boston charter schools vs. Business as usual

4 Years

All students;
3,672 students

0.58

0.28

Yes

 
 
23
 

Took the SAT

Boston charter schools vs. Business as usual

4 Years

All students;
3,672 students

0.72

0.64

Yes

--
 
Completing school outcomes—Statistically significant negative effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Graduated from high school within 5 years

Boston charter schools vs. Business as usual

4 Years

All students;
3,208 students

0.78

0.79

No

--

Graduated from high school within 4 years

Boston charter schools vs. Business as usual

4 Years

All students;
3,920 students

0.54

0.69

Yes

-12
 
 
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), tenth-grade Mathematics score

Boston charter schools vs. Business as usual

4 Years

All students;
3,629 students

0.36

-0.23

Yes

 
 
22
 
Literacy Achievement outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), tenth-grade English language arts score

Boston charter schools vs. Business as usual

4 Years

All students;
3,685 students

0.12

-0.29

Yes

 
 
16
 


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: 54%
    Male: 46%

  • Urban
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    Massachusetts
  • Race
    Asian
    3%
    Black
    61%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    31%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    69%

Setting

The study was conducted in Boston, Massachusetts.

Study sample

In the analytic sample for the tenth grade English language arts [ELA] scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System [MCAS] assessment, 54% of the students were female; 61% were Black, 31% were Hispanic, and 3% were Asian.

Intervention Group

The intervention group consisted of students who were admitted to one of the six charter schools at the time of the admission lottery or afterward. The intervention was defined as enrollment in one of six charter schools in Boston that used lotteries for admission between fall 2002 and fall 2009.

Comparison Group

The comparison group consisted of students who were never admitted to one of the six charter schools. Students in the comparison condition participated in an admissions lottery, but did not attend any of the six charter schools at any point in their academic careers.

Support for implementation

This is not applicable for this intervention.

 

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