Apex Learning Online Instruction, 2017-2018. Research Educational Program Report
Author: Houston Independent School District (HISD), Department of Research and Accountability
Date: 2019-03-25
Type: Reports - Research
Subjects: Online Courses,Electronic Learning,Access to Education,Secondary School Students,Enrollment Trends,Academic Achievement,Graduation Rate,Demography,Student Characteristics,Repetition,Required Courses,Credits,Readiness,Standardized Tests,Scores,Profiles,At Risk Students,English Language Learners,Academically Gifted

In order to provide equitable opportunities and equal access to an effective, personalized education, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) offers Apex Learning, a district-funded virtual platform with online instructional course options, to all students in grades 7-12. The purpose of this report is to provide district leaders with data trends to inform the monitoring of Apex Learning in HISD. This report analyzes the enrollment and performance of students enrolled in online courses through Apex Learning compared to other online platforms from 2014-2015 to 2017-2018. It identifies course completion rates by credit type, subject, and grade level, while incorporating student demographic information when appropriate. Moreover, this report provides additional analysis of APEX Learning course completion for 2016-2017 graduates. This report aims to answer the following questions: (1) What were the completion rates of all students enrolled in an APEX Learning course from 2014-2015 to 2017-2018?; (2) What were the completion rates of 12th grade students enrolled in an APEX Learning course from 2014-2015 to 2017-2018?; (3) What were the demographic characteristics of all students enrolled in online courses in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018?; (4) Of 2017 and 2018 graduates, how many completed at least one course through APEX Learning at any point in grades 9-12?; and (5) In 2017-2018, how many credit recovery courses associated with STAAR EOC content were completed through APEX, and how many students who completed them met the passing standards on these exams? Key findings include: (1) Since 2010, Apex Learning has been used across the district to offer students personalized, virtual high school courses for original or credit recovery and blended tutorial solutions. Despite shifts in how the online platform is utilized or the variations in the types of courses being taken, Apex Learning continues to be a widely-used resource for students and teachers throughout HISD; (2) Findings show a 19 percent decline in Apex courses, from 9,830 Apex course completions in 2014-2015 to 7,984 Apex course completions in 2017-2018. Further disaggregation by credit type reveals that the proportion of Apex courses for credit recovery has declined and the proportion of Apex courses for original credit has increased; and (3) Analysis of the demographic characteristics of students enrolled in an Apex Learning course in 2017-2018 suggests that the profile of a student who took an Apex course may be different from the profile of other HISD students. In 2017-2018, when students who took an Apex course were compared to students who took other online courses and compared to student who took an online course other than Apex, students who took an Apex course were more likely to be identified as at risk and an English learner, but less likely to be identified as gifted and talented.