Using Propensity Score Matching to Find Comparison Schools

• In Event: Multiple Perspectives on Accountability in Schools

Abstract

In the current school accountability systems in several states across the nation, schools are increasingly ranked based on their student performance on standardized tests. These school accountability systems rank schools based on assessment data, and fail to take into consideration the differences in student demographic background across different schools. The objective of this study was to design a balanced school accountability system by finding meaning comparison schools for each school at a diverse urban school district in Florida. This study intended to fill a gap in the current accountability systems, which does not account for the differences in student demographics across different schools when determining and ranking school performance.

Authors

• Xiaogeng Sun, Orange County Public School

• Chen An, Orange County Public Schools

• Jennifer Sasser, Orange County Public Schools