The effect of school closures on student outcomes

The effect of school closures on student outcomes
 
A study by Kemple and colleagues, published in Education Next, examined the effect of school closures on student outcomes, and found that students generally fared better in new schools. 

The researchers looked at 29 school closures begun between 2003 and 2009 in New York City. Specifically, the schools were low-performing high schools that were closed as part of a secondary-school reform initiative.
A total of 20,600 affected students were analyzed: 9th-grade students who chose to stay after a closure announcement, 9th graders who transferred elsewhere, and rising 9th graders required to attend different high schools because of a closure. Data included academic performance, attendance, and graduation rates.

According to the article, findings showed that for students already enrolled in a school that was later closed, the phase-out process did not have a systematic impact, positive or negative, on their attendance or academic performance. However, for rising 9th-grade students, the closure of a school they otherwise planned to attend led them to enroll in somewhat higher-performing high schools and increased their likelihood of graduating.

Overall, Kemple says that, "More research is needed to understand how school closures affect factors like teacher performance, student and staff morale, and family engagement over time. Our findings, however, suggest that high school closures in New York City during this particular period produced meaningful benefits for future students while not harming, at least academically, the students most immediately affected by them."

Johns Hopkins University 

Research in Brief

News Blast

Views: 36

▶ Reply to This

JOIN SL 2.0

SUBSCRIBE TO

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP 2.0

Feedspot named School Leadership 2.0 one of the "Top 25 Educational Leadership Blogs"

"School Leadership 2.0 is the premier virtual learning community for school leaders from around the globe."

---------------------------

 Our community is a subscription-based paid service ($19.95/year or only $1.99 per month for a trial membership)  that will provide school leaders with outstanding resources. Learn more about membership to this service by clicking one of our links below.

 

Click HERE to subscribe as an individual.

 

Click HERE to learn about group membership (i.e., association, leadership teams)

__________________

CREATE AN EMPLOYER PROFILE AND GET JOB ALERTS AT 

SCHOOLLEADERSHIPJOBS.COM

New Partnership

image0.jpeg

Mentors.net - a Professional Development Resource

Mentors.net was founded in 1995 as a professional development resource for school administrators leading new teacher induction programs. It soon evolved into a destination where both new and student teachers could reflect on their teaching experiences. Now, nearly thirty years later, Mentors.net has taken on a new direction—serving as a platform for beginning teachers, preservice educators, and

other professionals to share their insights and experiences from the early years of teaching, with a focus on integrating artificial intelligence. We invite you to contribute by sharing your experiences in the form of a journal article, story, reflection, or timely tips, especially on how you incorporate AI into your teaching

practice. Submissions may range from a 500-word personal reflection to a 2,000-word article with formal citations.

© 2026   Created by William Brennan and Michael Keany   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service