Attainment-based evaluation of charter schools as a complement to achievement-test-based studies¶
Research Method · All research methods
Evidence · 6 claims (6 for) · 3 studies (3 associational),q2–q3· 0 of 3 report an effect size · 6 claims rest on one study
Description¶
The report frames its contribution as moving beyond the standard outcome measure in charter school research. It states that "past charter school studies focused on student achievement," whereas this study "analyzed the relationship between attendance and educational attainment in charter high schools." The approach treats high school completion and college attendance as the outcomes by which charter school impact is judged, complementing test-score-based evaluations.
Accounts¶
- Attainment-based evaluation of charter schools as a complement to achievement-test-based studies: The report frames its contribution as moving beyond the standard outcome measure in charter school research. It states that "past charter school studies focused on student achievement," whereas this study "analyzed the relationship between attendance and educational attainment in charter high schools." The approach treats high school completion and college attendance as the outcomes by which charter school impact is judged, complementing test-score-based evaluations. (Kevin Booker et al. (2008))
- Evaluate charter high schools on attainment outcomes such as diploma completion and college attendance, not test scores alone: The article argues that attainment outcomes should anchor evaluations of charter high schools because of their downstream stakes: "Given the impact of educational attainment on a variety of economic and social outcomes, a positive result could have significant implications for the value of school-choice programs that include charter high schools." The study therefore measures standard diploma receipt and college attendance rather than relying solely on achievement tests. (Kevin Booker et al. (2010))
Claims¶
- Charter high schools in Florida and Chicago showed substantial positive effects on both high school completion and college attendance [+M]
- Charter middle school students who attend a charter high school are 7 to 15 percentage points more likely to earn a standard diploma than those who transition to a traditional public high school [+M]
- The study examines charter high school effects on educational attainment in two settings, Florida and Chicago [+M]
- Charter middle school students who attend a charter high school are 8 to 10 percentage points more likely to attend college than those who transition to a traditional public high school [+M]
- Attending a charter high school is associated with a 7 to 15 percentage point higher likelihood of earning a standard diploma than attending a traditional public high school [+M]
- Attending a charter high school is associated with an 8 to 10 percentage point higher likelihood of attending college [+M]
Related Research Methods¶
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Key Sources¶
- Kevin Booker, Tim Sass, Brian Gill, Ron Zimmer. (2008). Going Beyond Test Scores: Evaluating Charter School Impact on Educational Attainment in Chicago and Florida. Santa Monica, CA: RAND. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/going-beyond-test-scores-evaluating-charter-school-impact-on-educational-attainment-in-chicago-and-florida
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
research-method |
id |
attainment-based-evaluation-of-charter-schools-as-a-complement-to-achievement-test-based-s |
title |
Attainment-based evaluation of charter schools as a complement to achievement-test-based studies |
description |
The report frames its contribution as moving beyond the standard outcome measure in charter school research. |
status |
review |
moved_from |
theory/attainment-based-charter-school-evaluation |
generated |
by process:sweep-kinds on 2026-10-10 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — kevin-booker-2008 |
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