Heterogeneity in Black Student Achievement Across U.S. School Districts

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:45 pm - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Measuring Black Educational Justice: Data, Discipline, and Disparities

Abstract

This study examines variation in average district-level academic achievement among Black students nationwide, addressing gaps in understanding within-group differences. Using data from the Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA) on Black students in grades 3-8 across 3,000 districts (2008–2019), a two-level hierarchical model reveals significant variability in achievement. A one standard deviation difference in average district-level Black student academic achievement was equivalent to a 1.73 grade-level gap in standardized test scores in mathematics and RLA. A two standard deviation difference was equivalent to a 3.46 grade-level gap in standardized test scores. Findings underscore the heterogeneity of Black student outcomes and the critical role districts may play in shaping educational achievement.

Authors

• Darnell Leatherwood, University of Michigan

• Faeze Safari, University of Connecticut

• Jennifer Aracely Rodriguez, University of Michigan Ann Arbor