Note From The CEO
Dear Friend,
As October wraps up, I’m proud to reflect on the progress we’ve made and share some exciting updates from Good Reason Houston. We are thrilled to welcome Kaneisha Lloyd as our new Chief Advancement Officer. With her extensive experience and commitment to educational equity, we’re confident she will play a vital role in advancing our mission and driving meaningful change across the region.
This month, we take a Closer Look at our ConnectED Luncheon, where local leaders came together to discuss the future of public education in Houston. At the event, we released our 2024 Education Snapshot, packed with important data on student outcomes across the region – join our upcoming webinar for an in-depth look at the numbers and how they can shape the future of education in Houston.
In By the Numbers, we’re diving into insights from our original research report, “Building the Future Workforce: Understanding Predictors of Postsecondary Success in Texas.” This groundbreaking research explores key factors influencing student success after high school, helping us chart a path forward for the next generation.
Lastly, we’re also celebrating the impact of our community initiatives.. Through Houston Loves Teachers, we teamed up with Chevron to recognize our dedicated educators during a campus lunch. And we’re grateful to have joined the Pre-K Ecosystem Convening with the Harris County Department of Education aimed at strengthening early childhood education. See it all in our Houston Education Spotlight!
CLOSER LOOK
2024 ConnectED Luncheon & Houston Education Snapshot
Good Reason Houston brought together local industry leaders and education advocates at our annual ConnectED Luncheon. The event provided a platform to discuss the state of public education, revealing the 2024 Houston Public Education Snapshot, which highlights key data on how well our public education system is serving students across Houston.
For an in-depth exploration of the Snapshot, we’ll be hosting a webinar to dive into what the data is telling us on Thursday, October 31st at 10:30 AM.
Another highlight of the luncheon was the superintendent panel, where four local district leaders shared insights on the challenges and opportunities facing Houston’s public schools. Their perspectives shed light on the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of education.
We were also proud to honor Scott McClelland, co-founder of Good Reason Houston and retired president of H-E-B, with the 2024 Champion for Change Award. Scott’s tireless commitment to public education has made a lasting impact on students and communities across the region.
BY THE NUMBERS
Building The Future Workforce: Understanding Predictors Of Postsecondary Success In Texas
As we continue to support Houston’s students on their journey beyond high school, understanding what drives postsecondary success is essential. Our latest report analyzes trends in college enrollment, credential attainment, and earnings from 2012 to 2017, uncovering key insights into how students transition from K-12 education to higher education and career paths. The findings highlight important differences shaped by economic circumstances and race/ethnicity. Stay tuned for a follow-up report later this year that will examine how students’ K-12 experiences connect to their postsecondary outcomes.
Key takeaways:
College enrollment and postsecondary credential attainment didn’t change much from 2012 to 2017.
This trend of flat college enrollment and credential attainment held across degree types and different race or ethnicity groups.
There were, however, very different trajectories for students from different economic circumstances, with those from non-economically disadvantaged backgrounds more likely to attain credentials in 2017 than in 2012.
The growth in credential attainment for non-economically disadvantaged students was driven almost entirely by graduates of color. However, there were many fewer non-economically graduates in the Houston region in 2017 than in 2012.
Graduates with postsecondary credentials were much more likely to earn a living wage six years after high school than those with only a high school degree.
HOUSTON EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT
Houston Loves Teachers Partners with Chevron to Celebrate Educators
In partnership with Chevron, Houston Loves Teachers kicked off their Humankind Month by sending heartfelt letters of appreciation to teachers across the region. This collaboration recognized the hard work and dedication of Houston’s educators, ensuring they feel supported and valued.
Pre-K Ecosystem Convening Highlights the Importance of Early Childhood
Good Reason Houston’s Managing Director of Insights, Meron Tekle, recently contributed her expertise at the Harris County Department of Education’s Pre-K Ecosystem Convening. This gathering of key stakeholders focused on raising awareness about the importance of pre-K education and explored strategies to strengthen the pre-K ecosystem across the region. Meron shared valuable insights to help advance collaborative efforts and improve outcomes for Houston’s youngest learners.
EVENTS
Webinar: 2024 Education Snapshot: Insights and Key Trends in Huston Public Education
Join Good Reason Houston for an in-depth exploration of our newly released 2024 Houston Area Public Education Snapshot. We’ll dive into critical data points spanning pre-K enrollment, academic achievement, college, career, and military readiness (CCMR), and postsecondary credential attainment. Learn how these indicators are shaping the future of public education in Houston, and get expert insights on opportunities for growth and innovation across the region.
