Background/Context: Over the past decade early warning systems which use predictive indicators to identify students in need of additional supports to stay on track to high school graduation have spread from a few schools to most states. There is now a growing interest in extending the utility of early warning systems from high school graduation to…

Students and educators have returned to the classroom for the fall of 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person learning in schools across the country. Yet, this does not mean the pandemic's effects on education and students are behind everyone, and the pandemic continues to linger across America. The current understanding of the…

The COVID-19 pandemic and protests against systemic racism have shaken the nation in recent months. In addition to presenting an update to the nation on progress and challenge in increasing high school graduation rates on a path to postsecondary and workforce readiness, this report also addresses some of the gaps, barriers, and innovations seen…

The Boston Opportunity Agenda is a partnership among the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools, the University of Massachusetts Boston, and the city's leading public charities along with many other local foundations and philanthropists. The partnership's goal is to use its members' varied resources and expertise in a unified manner to improve the…

The report takes an in-depth look at the progress that was made between 2011 and 2016 in raising high school graduation rates and the state and district sources of those improvements, and identify where challenges remain. It also links improvements in high school graduation rates to the need to ensure that all students, including those…

This year's annual update to the nation includes three new features. The first is a Secondary School Improvement Index to assess whether gains in high school graduation rates nationally and by state are translating into better preparation for postsecondary education. The second feature is a focus on homeless students with graduation rate data…

This year signifies two key milestones in the GradNation campaign to raise high school graduation rates. First, the release of the 2015 federal graduation rate data marks five years since states began reporting the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). The ACGR, for the first time, created a common formula for collecting graduation rate…

Throughout much of the 20th century, the United States led the world in educational attainment and, in turn, economic and social progress. But that advantage has been slipping in recent decades, prompting the president and a host of governors and philanthropic leaders to set goals for America to reclaim its place as the world leader in the…

The nation has achieved an 82.3 percent high school graduation rate--a record high. Graduation rates rose for all student subgroups, and the number of low-graduation-rate high schools and students enrolled in them dropped again, indicating that progress has had far-reaching benefits for all students. This report is the first to analyze 2014…

Over the past decade, schools, districts, and states have become increasingly savvy with data collection and analysis to drive student outcomes. The development and use of Early Warning Indicator and Intervention Systems (EWS) are at the cutting edge of the data- driven, outcomes-focused, high-impact education movement. These systems can increase…

The ambitious goal set by Colorado's governor to address the state's dropout problem is a model for the nation. Helping thousands of young people to receive their high school diplomas instead of leaving school without them is a crucial step in improving the quality of life for all Colorado residents. Accomplishing this goal will require focused…

As the twenty-first century opens, says Robert Balfanz, the United States is developing a deep social consensus that American high schools should ensure that all adolescents graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary schooling and training. Balfanz asks how well high schools are succeeding in this mission and whether they can ultimately…