Achievement at an Advanced Level among Secondary Students: Changes over Time and Options That Support Black or African American and Hispanic/Latino Students

Montgomery County Public Schools. 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-309-6277; Web site: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/

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41

Academic Achievement; African American Students; Hispanic American Students; Secondary School Students; Public Schools; Grade 8; Grade 12; Advanced Courses; High Achievement; Reading Achievement; Mathematics Achievement; Mathematics Tests; Reading Tests

At the request of the Chief Academic Officer, the Office of Shared Accountability conducted a study of successful secondary students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and what helped them to achieve academic success. The study first examined performance at the advanced level over time. In response to the finding that Black or African American and Hispanic/Latino students were less likely to stay at an advanced level of achievement from Grade 8 to 12, the study identified curricular options and high school programs that supported advanced performance by these students as they went on to complete high school. The specific research questions were as follows: (1) What is the level of achievement at the advanced level among secondary students over time? Specifically, what percentage of students performed at an advanced level in Grade 8 and then continued as high achievers at the end of high school? Which students were most likely to stay at the advanced level over time, from Grade 8 to the end of high school?; (2) Which high school programs or curricular options were most promising in supporting Black or African American and Hispanic/Latino students to continue achieving at an advanced level at the end of high school?; and (3) With respect to the programs and curricular options identified in question 2, what are the characteristics or components of each one? What are common aspects across them?

ERIC

29

2018

ED588639