A Sample of the Many Project GRAD Accomplishments

Project GRAD is increasing student performance in all of the twelve current GRAD sites. For a detailed report on the achievements of GRAD students, please download our GRAD Data Pack. Below are several examples of how GRAD is working.

Project GRAD Produces New Scholars Every Year

Currently, GRAD scholarships have been awarded to qualified graduates from six high schools across the country—three in Houston and one each in Newark, Los Angeles, and Columbus. With more than 600 graduates qualifying for the scholarship in 2003, Project GRAD has had nearly 3,000 qualifying scholars to date. More than 2,300 of those scholars have gone on to attend college.

Project GRAD Scholars attend Ivy League and other Top Schools

For the first time, Project GRAD scholarship recipients, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college, are now attending universities such as Princeton, Cornell, Howard, Columbia, Texas A&M, the University of Houston, Spelman, Colgate, Rice University, the University of Virginia, and Drexel.

50% Increase in College Enrollment in Houston

In 1989, in the Houston schools where the program started, only 174 students finished high school. In 2003 that number had increased to 312. Since 1992, college enrollment increased 62% at Davis High School while the Houston Independent School System reports an increase of only 13% during the same time period.  To download a PowerPoint presentation with more detailed results and charts click here.

Atlanta Students Closing the Gap

On the 2000 Georgia High School Graduation Test, Project GRAD Atlanta school Washington High School lagged district pass rates by 10 points and the state by 15. By 2002, the gap versus the district was nearly closed and the gap versus the state was halved. Additionally, improvements in reading, language arts, and mathematics of up to 24.6 points have been noted in 4th, 6th, and 8th grader performance on the Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) in GRAD schools.

34% Increase on Scores in Ohio State Proficiency Test  

In Columbus, GRAD schools have improved 13 points in Reading and 22 points in Writing when compared to baseline proficiency tests given at the start of implementation in 1999. Although MOVE-IT Math will start full implementation in Fall 2003-04, GRAD Columbus schools already improved 12 points in Math in 2002 when compared to 1999.

Largest Graduating Class in Newark, New Jersey

The first Project GRAD scholars were members or the largest graduating class from Malcolm X. Shabazz High School in Newark, NJ in five years. Of the 187 graduates in the class of 2001, 88 enrolled in college.

Elementary Schools Closing the GAP in Newark, New Jersey

• Second and 3rd grade math and reading achievement as measured by the Stanford-9 test, exceeded the performance levels that would be expected if GRAD had not been implemented. Specifically, the MDRC evaluation estimates that Project GRAD 3rd grade mathematics scores in 2000 reached the 48th percentile while scores would have only been in the 35th percentile in the absence of implementing GRAD.
• Overall student performance in Project GRAD elementary schools has been increasing at a steady rate. In 2000, a 13 point difference existed in percent passing 4th grade reading (Elementary School Proficiency Assessment Test) between GRAD Newark (Central Feeder) schools and the district. By 2002, GRAD had substantially narrowed this gap to 4 percent.

Los Angeles Reading and Math Scores Improve

In Los Angeles, reading and math results have improved dramatically to date. On the Grade 3 National Rankings for the Stanford 9 exam, GRAD schools improved 15 points in Reading, 29 points in Math and 20 points in Language.

Columbus Graduates

Linden-McKinley High School has drastically improved since implementation of the Project GRAD Columbus program in 1999. In that year, the school graduated just 61 of 71 students, with 18 of them having plans to go onto college. This year at LMHS, 122 of the 134 seniors are graduating (90%), with 75 heading onto college (61%). Of the 75 graduates, 50 will receive the Project GRAD Merit Award because of certain criteria they have satisfied, including attendance at LMHS for all four years of high school, maintenance of a 2.5 GPA and 93% attendance record, and attendance at two Project GRAD Summer Institutes, which take place each summer to acquaint urban high school students with the college atmosphere.