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In November 2023, Good Reason Houston launched a groundbreaking research project in partnership with the University of Houston Education Research Center (ERC). This research connects pre-K-12 educational experiences with postsecondary outcomes, such as college enrollment, credential attainment, employment, and earnings.
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Good Reason Houston, in partnership with the University of Houston Education Research Center (ERC), unveiled a groundbreaking study to understand how public school students’ pre-K-12 experiences influence their future jobs and earnings. It is the first comprehensive effort to examine what helps students succeed and how opportunities can be created for all students, regardless of background. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the research.
A: The (ERC) is a secure data repository that allows researchers to access individual-level data from a variety of state agencies and connect them to draw powerful conclusions about the relationships between, say, students’ STAAR scores and their earnings six years after they graduated high school. Because ERC data is so sensitive, Good Reason Houston was required to submit and defend a project proposal to a statewide cross-agency board that vetted the proposal before giving approval for us to access the data.
A: Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB), honors, pre-AP, advanced Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, and high-level electives. This does not include dual-credit enrollment
A: Statistical modelling considered these factors: Race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, emergent bilingual (EB) status, sex assigned at birth, and baseline academic achievement, as measured by meeting grade-level standards on 8th-grade STAAR reading (for all models but those models testing the effects of 8th grade STAAR).Regression analysis compared similar students on these factors to attempt to isolate how graduates’ experiences grades 8-12 influenced their postsecondary outcomes.
A: In identifying what level of advanced course-taking seemed to really increase graduates’ predicted likelihood of attaining postsecondary credentials, we tested many different thresholds. We compared the effects of taking 0 vs 1 advanced courses, as well as 1 vs. 2, 2 vs. 3, 3 vs. 4, and 4 vs. 5. There was little to no meaningful difference between the lower levels of advanced course-taking, but there was a statistically significant boost (and meaningful in terms of the actual size of the gain) for taking 5 advanced courses compared to taking 4. Using that result as a guide, we then expanded the test to be 5+ advanced courses compared to less than 5, and those results really stood out as making a substantial difference.
A: MIT’s living wage calculations include a variety of factors like food, transportation, housing, internet, and income taxes. They do not include savings or discretionary spending.
Explore data around the quality of Houston schools and how individual schools compare to the Houston region and state.
Each year, Good Reason Houston will provide a data-driven snapshot of student outcomes in the Houston Area, as well as for Houston ISD and Harris County. These snapshots show how our region is doing at preparing students along their education pathway, through five key indicators (from pre-K enrollment through postsecondary completion).
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