Students in census tracts with unaffordable housing, low home ownership, or little green space have higher odds of grade retention, even with similar achievement¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2023 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Compared to students in the most-resourced census tracts, odds of being retained were 67% higher where most families spent 30%+ of income on housing, 56% higher where fewest families owned homes, and 37% higher where green space was least, holding student achievement measures similar. → Irsheid 2023

Evidence¶

Irsheid 2023¶

Irsheid, S. (2023). Beyond the Student: Structural Factors that Affect Grade Retention. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. https://consortium.uchicago.edu/publications/beyond-the-student

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Findings section of the brief reports observational analysis of Chicago Public Schools data on neighborhood census-tract factors and grade retention, comparing students with similar test scores, grades, suspension rates, and attendance. The brief states retention rates were "higher in these census tracts, even when comparing students with similar test scores, grades, suspension rates, and attendance."

"Compared to students living in census tracts with the most resources, the odds of being retained were: o 67% higher in census tracts where the most families spent 30% or more of their income on housing; o 56% higher in census tracts where the fewest families owned their home; and o 37% higher in census tracts where there was the least green space."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Within the same neighborhoods and schools, boys and Black students are more likely to be overage for grade, a proxy for prior retention — related
• Elementary schools with high poverty and high suspension rates have higher grade retention odds among similar-achieving students — related
• The school-built environment, including access to nature and green spaces, positively impacts children, teachers, and the school community — related