Boston students involved in Citizen Schools, an after-school and summer program that aims to boost academic, social, and leadership skills among disadvantaged middle-school youth, are making gains in mathematics and English, being promoted to tenth grade on time, and attending college-preparatory high schools at a rate higher than students not in the program, according to findings from the first two years of a five-year study.

The evaluation is examining the high school choices and on-time promotion to tenth grade of 8th Grade Academy participants as well as attendance, suspension, MCAS math and language arts scores, mathematics and English grades, and promotion of sixth-and eighth-graders. It is also examining changes in participants’ behavior and achievements

Evidence to date indicates that Citizen Schools has had a positive impact on 8th Grade Academy participants in the two short-term outcomes that the program seeks to affect—selection of an academically challenging high school and on-time promotion to tenth grade. The evaluation has found that:

• 8th Grade Academy participants chose to attend college-preparatory high schools at a higher rate than did nonparticipants.
  
  
• On-time promotion to tenth grade was higher among 8th Grade Academy participants than it was among similar nonparticipants
  
  

In addition, students in the 8th Grade Academy attended school at higher rates than nonparticipants. However, they did not outperform their nonparticipating peers on other important indicators such as suspension rates, English and mathematics course grades, and MCAS mathematics and English language arts scores. Citizen Schools is intensifying the academic support it provides to students in its 8th Grade Academy in response to this evaluation finding.

Citizen Schools has had a positive impact on sixth-grade students as measured by their performance on key indicators of academic achievement. The evaluation found that:

• In comparison to similar nonparticipants, students who participated in Citizen Schools as sixth-graders were suspended at lower rates, attended school at higher rates, and were promoted at higher rates.
  
  
• Sixth-graders who had high levels of program exposure earned better grades in mathematics and English courses than did nonparticipants.
  
  
• Sixth-grade students who participated in Citizen Schools for two years went on to earn higher mathematics course grades and to outperform similar nonparticipants on the MCAS test of English language arts.
  
  

Overall, students viewed the program positively. They enjoyed their relationships with staff and other students and said they had gained new confidence in their ability to make oral presentations. Staff, too, enjoyed their work with youth.

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