After Hillsdale High School detracked into heterogeneous small learning communities, 100% of African American and Latinx 9th-graders enrolled in biology (up from 18% in 2002–03) and assessment performance matched high-track schools¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 2024 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Three years into Hillsdale's redesign, 100% of African American and Latinx 9th-grade students were enrolled in biology, compared to only 18% in 2002–03, and District Common Assessment performance was equivalent to schools enrolling only high-track students. → Hernández 2024

Evidence¶

Hernández 2024¶

Hernández, L., & Darling-Hammond, L. (with Nielsen, N.). (2024). Cultivating relationships in secondary schools: Structures that matter. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/cultivating-relationships-secondary-schools-brief

q2 · i? · review · r1

Single-school case example reported in the brief's 'Structures That Build Safety and Belonging in Action' section: after a 3-year conversion creating three heterogeneous small learning communities and eliminating low-track science, enrollment rose from 'only 18% in 2002–03' to 100%, with 'equivalent' assessment performance. No tests or effect sizes are printed.

"As a result, 3 years into the redesign, 100% of African American and Latinx 9th-grade students were enrolled in biology, compared to only 18% in 2002–03. In addition, Hillsdale’s performance on District Common Assessments was equivalent to that of schools that enrolled only high-track students in these courses."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Race and Ethnicity — moderator: an instructional effect differs by group

Related Claims¶

• Between- or within-class homogeneous ability grouping has a small negative effect on low-ability primary students but no effect on other students — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it
• Gateway students graduate at high rates, including 100% of African American, Latina/o, and students with disabilities — related