WWC review of this study

Understanding the Effect of KIPP as It Scales: Volume I, Impacts on Achievement and Other Outcomes. Final Report of KIPP's "Investing in Innovation Grant Evaluation"

Tuttle, Christina Clark; Gleason, Philip; Knechtel, Virginia; Nichols-Barrer, Ira; Booker, Kevin; Chojnacki, Gregory; Coen, Thomas; Goble, Lisbeth (2015). Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED560079

  •  examining 
    607
     Students
    , grades
    6-12

Reviewed: April 2026

At least one finding shows moderate evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards with reservations
English language arts achievement outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Statewide assessment of reading achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
14,551 students

0.08

-0.09

Yes

 
 
6
 
Show Supplemental Findings

End-of-Year Reading Assessments

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

Tuttle 2010 Full sample;
5,442 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
9

Statewide assessment of reading achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
22,155 students

0.06

-0.09

Yes

 
 
6

End-of-Year Reading Assessments

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Tuttle 2010 Full sample;
8,041 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
6

End-of-Year Reading Assessments

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Tuttle 2010 Full sample;
2,570 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
6

Statewide assessment of reading achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
27,758 students

-0.01

-0.11

Yes

 
 
4

Statewide assessment of reading achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

1 Year

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample (new KIPP middle schools);
2,360 students

-0.22

-0.27

Yes

 
 
2

Reading test score

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

1 Year

Tuttle 2013 Full matched comparison sample;
31,832 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
2

Statewide assessment of reading achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

1 Year

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
34,915 students

-0.11

-0.11

No

--
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

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
13,624 students

0.14

-0.13

Yes

 
 
11
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Achievement in mathematics

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

Tuttle 2010 Full sample;
5,439 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
16

Achievement in mathematics

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Tuttle 2010 Full sample;
8,020 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
14

Achievement in mathematics

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Tuttle 2010 Full sample;
2,576 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
14

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
21,926 students

0.17

-0.12

Yes

 
 
11

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
27,736 students

0.09

-0.14

Yes

 
 
9

Math test score

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

1 Year

Tuttle 2013 Full matched comparison sample;
31,832 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
6

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

1 Year

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
34,938 students

-0.05

-0.11

Yes

 
 
2

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

1 Year

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample (new KIPP middle schools);
2,366 students

-0.19

-0.23

No

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

Statewide science assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
17,413 students

0.08

-0.17

Yes

 
 
10
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Science

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

Tuttle 2013 full matched comparison sample;
8,699 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
13
Social Studies Achievement outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Statewide assessments of history achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Tuttle 2015 Middle school: matched-student sample;
9,762 students

0.11

-0.13

Yes

 
 
9
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Statewide social studies assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

Tuttle 2013 Full matched comparison sample;
6,904 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
10


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.


  • 7% English language learners

  • Female: 51%
    Male: 49%

  • 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

    Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas
  • Race
    Black
    58%
    Other or unknown
    42%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    39%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    61%

Setting

This analysis includes students and schools in multiple states and districts in the United States where KIPP charter schools operate. The study took place in 43 middle schools in the KIPP network in 20 cities across the following 12 states and the District of Columbia: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

Study sample

The study used a matched-student quasi-experimental design, where the intervention group consisted of students who attended 37 KIPP middle schools, and the comparison group was a sample matched based on student baseline characteristics: baseline reading and math test scores; gender, race, special education, limited English proficiency, and free or reduced-price lunch status; and whether the student repeated a grade in the baseline year. Sample characteristics for the analysis samples with non-imputed baseline data, on which the WWC based the intervention’s effectiveness rating, are not reported.

Intervention Group

Students in the intervention condition attended a KIPP middle school at some point over the period 2001–13.

Comparison Group

Students in the comparison condition attended non-KIPP middle schools.

Support for implementation

The study did not provide information about implementation support; however, authors noted that staff at KIPP schools had considerable autonomy in the implementation process to set the direction of the school (p. 22).

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.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Gleason, P., Knechtel, V., Nichols-Barrer, I., Booker, K., Chojnacki, G., ... Goble, L. (2015). Going to scale: As KIPP network grows, positive impacts are sustained (In Focus brief). Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • Gleason, P. M., Tuttle, C. C., Gill, B., Nichols-Barrer, I., & Teh, B. (2014). Do KIPP schools boost student achievement?. Education Finance and Policy, 9(1), 36–58.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Teh, B., Nichols-Barrer, I., Gill, B., & Gleason, P. (2010). Supplemental analytic sample equivalence tables for student characteristics and achievement in 22 KIPP middle schools: A report from the National Evaluation of KIPP Middle Schools. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Teh, B., Nichols-Barrer, I., Gill, B., & Gleason, P. (2010). Student characteristics and achievement in 22 KIPP middle schools: Final report. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Gill, B., Gleason, P., Knechtel, V., Nichols-Barrer, I., & Resch, A. (2013). KIPP middle schools: Impacts on achievement and other outcomes, final report. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

Reviewed: April 2026

At least one finding shows moderate evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards with reservations
English language arts achievement outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Statewide assessment of general literacy achivement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

High school: matched-student sample (new entrants);
1,748 students

0.11

-0.07

Yes

 
 
7
 

TerraNova Reading (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

High school: matched-school sample (same cohort);
512 students

0.26

0.10

Yes

 
 
6
 

TerraNova Language (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

High school: matched-school sample (same cohort);
512 students

0.07

-0.05

No

--
Show Supplemental Findings

Standardized Score for English/Language Arts (ELA)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

5 Years

Cumulative middle and high school matched-student sample;
4,001 students

0.38

0.09

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

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

High school: matched-student sample (new entrants);
1,416 students

0.24

-0.04

Yes

 
 
11
 

TerraNova Mathematics Test

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

High school: matched-school sample (same cohort);
512 students

0.07

-0.07

No

--
Show Supplemental Findings

Standardized Score for Mathematics

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

5 Years

Cumulative middle and high school matched-student sample;
2,930 students

0.34

0.00

Yes

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

Statewide science assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

High school: matched-student sample (new entrants);
1,299 students

0.11

-0.22

Yes

 
 
13
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Statewide science assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

5 Years

Cumulative middle and high school matched-student sample;
3,582 students

0.42

0.00

Yes

 
 
16
Social Studies Achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Statewide social studies assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

High school: matched-student sample (new entrants);
601 students

-0.13

-0.15

No

--
Show Supplemental Findings

State and local assessments of social studies achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

5 Years

Cumulative middle and high school matched-student sample;
1,495 students

0.18

-0.09

Yes

 
 
11
Student progression outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

High school graduation

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

4 Years

High school: matched-student sample (new entrants);
852 students

0.71

0.67

No

--
Show Supplemental Findings

High school graduation

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

8 Years

Cumulative middle and high school matched-student sample;
2,033 students

0.79

0.65

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.


  • 8% English language learners

  • Female: 55%
    Male: 45%

  • Rural, Suburban, 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

    California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas
  • Race
    Black
    53%
    Other or unknown
    47%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    44%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    56%

Setting

The two analyses included in the report include students and schools in multiple states and districts in the United States where KIPP charter schools operate. The study took place in 18 high schools in the KIPP network.

Study sample

The study used two designs. The first, for the analysis of new KIPP entrants (new KIPP student analysis), is a matched-student quasi-experimental design, where the intervention group consisted of students who attended 14 KIPP high schools, and the comparison group was a sample matched based on student baseline characteristics: baseline reading and math test scores; gender, race, special education, limited English proficiency, and free or reduced-price lunch status; and whether the student repeated a grade in the baseline year. The second design, for the analysis of middle school KIPP students transitioning to high schools (continuing KIPP student analysis), the intervention group included KIPP middle school students who had the option to attend the local KIPP high school after completing grade 8. These students attended 8 KIPP high schools (including 4 that were in the new KIPP student analysis). The comparison group consisted of KIPP students in grade 8 (in the same year) from middle schools in regions with no KIPP high school open at the time. The comparison group was chosen from KIPP middle schools that most resembled the treatment middle schools on the basis of average school-level characteristics. Within that matched set of schools, a comparison sample of students was matched based on baseline reading and math test scores; gender, race, special education, limited English proficiency, and free or reduced-price lunch status; and whether the student repeated a grade in the baseline year. For the new KIPP student analysis, sample characteristics for analysis samples with non-imputed baseline data are not reported. For the continuing KIPP student analysis, 55% of students in the intervention condition were female, 49% were Black, and 38% were Hispanic. Among students in the comparison condition, 54% were female, 49% were Black, and 45% were Hispanic.

Intervention Group

For the new KIPP student analysis, students in the intervention condition entered the KIPP network for the first time in grade 9. For the continuing KIPP student analysis, students in the intervention condition attended KIPP middle schools in grade 8 and had the option to attend KIPP high schools in grade 9. The majority of the students in the intervention condition attended KIPP high schools.

Comparison Group

For the new KIPP student analysis, students in the comparison condition were from non-KIPP middle schools who remained at non-KIPP public schools in their high school years. For the continuing KIPP student analysis, students in the comparison condition attended KIPP middle schools in grade 8 and did not have the option to attend KIPP high schools in grade 9 because no local KIPP high schools were open at the time. Students in the comparison condition attended a wide variety of non-KIPP high schools.

Support for implementation

The study did not provide information about implementation support; however, authors noted that staff at KIPP schools had considerable autonomy in the implementation process to set the direction of the school (p. 22).

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.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Gleason, P., Knechtel, V., Nichols-Barrer, I., Booker, K., Chojnacki, G., ... Goble, L. (2015). Going to scale: As KIPP network grows, positive impacts are sustained (In Focus brief). Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

Reviewed: April 2026



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

Study sample characteristics were not reported.

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.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Gleason, P., Knechtel, V., Nichols-Barrer, I., Booker, K., Chojnacki, G., ... Goble, L. (2015). Going to scale: As KIPP network grows, positive impacts are sustained (In Focus brief). Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

Reviewed: April 2026

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

Statewide assessment of reading achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

Middle school: lottery sample;
458 students

-0.13

-0.28

Yes

 
 
6
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Statewide assessment of reading achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Middle school: lottery sample;
563 students

-0.16

-0.34

Yes

 
 
7

Statewide assessment of reading achievement (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

1 Year

Middle school: lottery sample;
608 students

-0.23

-0.26

No

--
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

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

3 Years

Middle school: lottery sample;
455 students

0.01

-0.17

Yes

 
 
7
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Middle school: lottery sample;
555 students

-0.01

-0.25

Yes

 
 
9

Statewide mathematics assessments (z-score)

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) vs. Business as usual

1 Year

Middle school: lottery sample;
607 students

-0.12

-0.22

No

--


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: 53%
    Male: 47%

  • 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

    California, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas
  • Race
    Black
    44%
    Other or unknown
    52%
    White
    4%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    51%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    49%

Setting

This analysis includes students and schools in multiple states and districts in the United States where KIPP charter schools operate. The study took place in 43 middle schools in the KIPP network in 20 cities across the following 12 states and the District of Columbia: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

Study sample

The study used a lottery-based randomized controlled trial design, where KIPP applicants that won admission to the KIPP middle school through the lottery formed the intervention group, and those whose lottery draw led to their not being offered admission formed the comparison group. Of the 60 KIPP middle schools open in 2011–12, 16 were sufficiently oversubscribed to conduct a lottery and be included in the RCT analysis. The sample after random assignment included 891 students, with a intervention group of 459 students offered admission and a comparison group of 432 students not offered admission. Among students in the intervention condition in the analysis sample, 53% were female, 51% were Hispanic, 44% were Black, 86% were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, 51% lived in bilingual homes or homes where a language other than English was the main language, 44% had mothers with a high school education or less, and 35% were from single-parent households. Among students in the comparison condition in the analysis sample, 51% were female, 47% were Hispanic, 44% were Black, 86% were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, 44% lived in bilingual homes or homes where a language other than English was the main language, 50% had mothers with a high school education or less, and 27% were from single-parent households.

Intervention Group

Students in the intervention condition were offered admission to a KIPP middle school, and 72% of the intervention students attended a KIPP middle school.

Comparison Group

Students in the comparison condition were not offered admission to a KIPP middle school. The majority of comparison students attended non-KIPP middle schools, though 5% attended a KIPP middle school at some point during the follow-up period.

Support for implementation

The study did not provide information about implementation support; however, authors noted that staff at KIPP schools had considerable autonomy in the implementation process to set the direction of the school (p. 22).

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.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Gleason, P., Knechtel, V., Nichols-Barrer, I., Booker, K., Chojnacki, G., ... Goble, L. (2015). Going to scale: As KIPP network grows, positive impacts are sustained (In Focus brief). Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • Gleason, P. M., Tuttle, C. C., Gill, B., Nichols-Barrer, I., & Teh, B. (2014). Do KIPP schools boost student achievement?. Education Finance and Policy, 9(1), 36–58.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Teh, B., Nichols-Barrer, I., Gill, B., & Gleason, P. (2010). Supplemental analytic sample equivalence tables for student characteristics and achievement in 22 KIPP middle schools: A report from the National Evaluation of KIPP Middle Schools. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Teh, B., Nichols-Barrer, I., Gill, B., & Gleason, P. (2010). Student characteristics and achievement in 22 KIPP middle schools: Final report. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • Tuttle, C. C., Gill, B., Gleason, P., Knechtel, V., Nichols-Barrer, I., & Resch, A. (2013). KIPP middle schools: Impacts on achievement and other outcomes, final report. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

 

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