Most students enter Upward Bound when they are in the ninth or tenth grade of high school. Once enrolled, students participate in a multi-year program of weekly activities during the school year and an intensive summer program that simulates college. The US Department of Education asked Mathematica Policy Research to evaluate Upward Bound's effectiveness. Mathematica was assisted by its subcontractors, Educational Testing Service, Westat, and Decision Information Resources. This publication summarizes Mathematica's findings on the program short-term impacts on students and the academic content of its services.
All impacts reported are statistically significant.
In October 1997, information about longer term impacts on students will be available. Two impacts emerge early on from Upward Bound. First, students who participate in the program expect to complete more schooling than similar students who do not. Second, the program has a positive impact on the number of academic courses participants take during high school, The students who benefit most initially are those with lower academic expectations. The program shows no impact in the first year on participants' high school grades.