DOI: 10.3886/icpsr38350.v1
title: Higher Achievement Evaluation, United States, 2014-2019
title: Version 1

description: The Higher Achievement evaluation is a longitudinal, randomized controlled trial study of Higher Achievement, an intensive summer and after-school program that offers participants more than 500 hours of academic enrichment activities a year to help them meet the high academic standards expected of college-bound students. Higher Achievement students ("scholars") enter the program during the summer before either fifth or sixth grade and commit to attending through eighth grade. This study collected school records data from the 2014-2015 school year through the 2018-2019 school year on three cohorts of scholars, starting with the scholars' year before entering the program (baseline) and two years of follow-up post program entry. These student records included course grades, standardized test scores, attendance information, and demographic variables. In addition, surveys were conducted among center directors of Higher Achievement centers, mentor volunteers, and parents of scholars to collect information on program implementation and service contrast between program-attending and control students.
description: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Higher Achievement intensive summer and after-school program.
description: This study collected school records data from the 2014-2015 school year through the 2018-2019 school year on three cohorts of scholars, starting with the scholars' year before entering the program (baseline) and two years of follow-up post program entry. In addition, surveys were conducted among center directors of Higher Achievement (HA) centers, mentor volunteers, and parents of scholars to collect information on program implementation and service contrast between program-attending and control students.
description: Student Records data contains student-level records for children who participated in the Higher Achievement (HA) evaluation (both program and control) for whom the researchers received school records baseline or outcome data. Random Assignment data includes student-level information on the full sample that was randomly assigned for this evaluation. This is a simplified version of random assignment records provided so researchers can replicate attrition rates for the study. Mentor Survey file contains individual-level data on four years of surveys collected from HA's volunteer mentors, including information on instructional practices, training, and attitudes towards the curriculum and program. Parent Survey file contains individual-level data on three years of surveys collected from parents of students participating in the study (both program and control), including information on out-of-school academic supports and enrichment activities received by students. Center Director Survey file contains data regarding the Higher Achievement program. This includes program structure, features, and challenges.
description: Student records data: these data were acquired from the school districts where Higher Achievement (HA) scholars attended school. In addition, in the DC area, a large number of students attend charter schools and data were requested from the charter schools most frequently listed by scholars on their HA application. At the end of data acquisition, student records files were acquired from six school districts and two charter schools. The six school districts are grouped into four "affiliates", a geographical grouping of HA centers that is a main unit of analysis. Survey data: these data were acquired by directly fielding surveys to each of the samples via e-mail. In the case of the Mentor survey, both paper and electronic modalities were provided, and in the case of the Center Directors, the survey was conducted over the phone. Participants in the Parent survey were provided incentives for completion.
description: Datasets: DS1: Higher Achievement Evaluation, United States, 2014-2019
description: Students, parents, mentors, and center directors involved with the Higher Achievement summer and after-school program. Smallest Geographic Unit: City
description: record abstracts; telephone interview; web-based survey