Abstract According to the National Center for Education Statistics, dropping out is a persistent problem among 15- to 24-year-olds. Researchers have noted school districts that have been able to improve graduation rates have often done so through the “development of innovative models and pathways that help young people get back on track to graduation” One such innovative model, an accelerated middle school intervention, is currently implemented across five middle schools in a large southeastern school district. The program targets students at-risk for dropping out based on characteristics such as age, mobility, poverty and previous retention in grade and allows them to complete both 8th and 9th grade requirements within one school year. To date, about 88% of students who completed the intervention during their last year of middle school were able to transition to high school as 10th grade students. This study presents findings from the students who completed this intervention between 2011–12 and 2015–16, representing the first five years the program was in existence. A quasi-experimental design is used to analyze outcomes related to attendance, course completion and graduation. Results indicate that students who complete the intervention are 34% more likely to graduate high school than the matched comparison group. However, no significant differences existed in student attendance rates while in high school. The findings indicate this program has the potential to improve graduation rates for students at-risk of dropping out provided the intervention occurs early enough in their academic career.

中文翻译：

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加速中学课程：超龄青少年长期学术利益的初步指标

摘要根据美国国家教育统计中心的数据，辍学是15至24岁之间的一个持续存在的问题。研究人员指出，能够提高毕业率的学区通常通过“开发创新模式和途径来帮助年轻人回到毕业路上”来做到这一点。目前，这样一种创新模式是一种加速的中学干预。在大型东南学区的五所中学实施。该计划根据年龄，流动性，贫困和以前的年级保留等特点，针对有风险辍学的学生，让他们在一学年内完成8年级和9年级的要求。至今，在初中最后一年完成干预的学生中，约有88％能够以10年级学生的身份过渡到高中。这项研究显示了从2011-12年到2015-16年完成干预的学生的发现，这是该计划存在的头五年。准实验设计用于分析与出勤，课程结业和毕业相关的结果。结果表明，完成干预的学生比匹配的比较组高中毕业的可能性高34％。但是，高中时学生的出勤率没有显着差异。