Check out the To&Through Project’s Issue Briefs below for one-page summaries of what decades of research has shown most contributes to students’ high school and college success.
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Briefs for Educators and Education Partners
To&Through Issue Brief: Attendance
Research from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research shows that attendance is important for all students. A student’s attendance strongly influences his or her grades, which is why almost all freshmen with strong attendance pass their classes. Learn more about why attendance matters and some strategies schools are using to improve it.
Briefs for Educators and Education Partners
To&Through Issue Brief: College Choice
Regardless of their academic qualifications, students’ likelihood of graduating from a given college mirrors the institutional graduation rate. This is also true for students with strong grades in high school; in fact, college choice matters the most for students with strong academic qualifications. Learn more about why college choice matters and strategies schools are using to help students navigate the college selection process.
Briefs for Educators and Education Partners
To&Through Issue Brief: Freshman OnTrack
Research from UChicago Consortium shows that freshman year is a make-it-or-break-it year for high school students. Course performance in the freshman year of high school is the most predictive indicator of whether a student will drop out of high school—more predictive than race, ethnicity, poverty level, and prior test scores combined. Learn more about why Freshman OnTrack matters and strategies schools are using to improve the ninth grade transition.Â
Briefs for Educators and Education Partners
To&Through Issue Brief: GPA and High School Transition
The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research has shown that strong freshman grades are a critical indicator of high school graduation and college readiness, but most CPS students see their grades fall significantly between the eighth and ninth grades. New research suggests that these declines are mostly due to changes in students' attendance and study habits as they adjust to a new school environment, not to changes to the difficulty of their coursework. Learn more about the importance of this transition and the challenges facing students as they make the transition to high school.
Briefs for Educators and Education Partners
To&Through Issue Brief: Grades
UChicago Consortium research has shown that a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is a better predictor of college success than his or her test scores. Grades are so important because they capture many of the noncognitive aspects of students’ work habits that test scores miss, such as executive functioning, academic perseverance, and growth mindset. Learn more about why grades matter and strategies schools are using to improve students' academic achievement.Â