This non-experimental, quantitative study investigated the association between the number of high school mathematics credits earned and college attendance. Specifically, this study examined the relationship for graduates of Kansas City Missouri Public Schools (KCPS) and Kansas City Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) in the 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and…

The demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses in education aligns with the need to advance society through innovation and research. Proficiency in STEM courses and curriculum is critical for nations to become global economic leaders. However, the majority of students in high school do not participate in STEM…

Taking at least one arts course in high school has been linked to higher school engagement as well as other positive cognitive, behavioral and social outcomes. Many states and local education agencies require arts credits for high school graduation. In 2013, 25 states required that high school students must have completed at least 0.5 credits in…

In this report, students were grouped into three distinct categories for analysis, based on patterns that emerged in arts participation during high school, which we named spartans, explorers, and deep divers. The patterns in arts participation represent not just the students, but also the opportunities and barriers they encountered. We found that…

Recent increases in high school graduation rates have been linked anecdotally to online course-taking for credit recovery. Online course-taking that supports high school completion could open opportunities for postsecondary education pursuits. Alternatively, poorer quality online instruction could diminish student learning and discourage…