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Similar Students, Different Results: Why Do Some Schools Do Better?

A large-scale survey of California elementary schools
serving low-income students


What schools do and what resources they have for doing it can make a powerful difference in the achievement of students from low-income backgrounds, according to findings from this two-year EdSource study.

Based on a large-scale survey of principals and teachers in 257 California elementary schools serving many low-income students, the initial findings (October 2005) identified four interrelated practices associated with higher API scores and suggested implications for district and principal leadership. Further analysis (April 2006) examined whether a school's API performance related to use of particular curriculum program. In addition, study findings shed light on the relationship between district practices and school performance as well as on the pivotal, and changing, role of the principal. Interviews with a subset of superintendents in participating districts helped illuminate specific approaches schools and districts have used to improve achievement.

The initial large-scale study was conducted by EdSource and researchers from Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley, and the American Institutes for Research.

Similar Students, Different Results (SSDR): Initial Report of Findings (October 2005)

These pieces detail what the study hoped to learn, how it was conducted, and the key initial finding: that four specific clusters of practices correlated most strongly with higher school API. 

Additional qualitative input collected through the SSDR study:

SSDR Additional Analyses and Findings (April 2006):
Elementary school curriculum program and API

One of the strongest initial findings was a correlation between a school’s API and having a coherent curriculum and instructional program. When the data were further analyzed it appeared that the school's choice of curriculum program correlated with API.

Note: EdSource is an independent, impartial, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to clarify complex education issues and to promote thoughtful decisions about public school improvement. EdSource is not affiliated in any way with any particular publisher. Neither EdSource nor this study in any way endorses one particular curriculum program over another, or one publisher over another. Permission must be requested from EdSource to photocopy and distribute copies of the report below:

EdSource SSDR Summary Report (June 2006)

This 20-page EdSource lay report summarizes all the Similar Students, Different Results study's findings, up through the spring of 2006, pulling together in one place key findings documented in the separate reports and materials listed above. This document is written with K-12 practitioners, community leaders, and state policymakers in mind.