College & career readiness
Every student should graduate from school prepared for success in college or a career. Our research provides tools to help students, families, and teachers chart pathways to higher education.


Catching up or falling behind: Measuring middle school achievement trajectories for college readiness
This study presents a framework that uses academic trajectories in the middle grades for identifying students in need of intervention and providing targeted support.
By: Angela Johnson, Megan Kuhfeld, Greg King
Topics: College & career readiness, Middle school, Student growth & accountability policies


Upgraded program helps students map a pathway to college
Updated College Explorer provides educators, students, and parents with insights into which colleges and universities students are already on track to enter, and the academic growth goals they need in order to reach the median ACT or SAT score at those colleges and universities.
District Administration
Mentions: Greg King
Topics: College & career readiness, High school, Innovations in reporting & assessment


Help kids plan for the future with College Explorer
In this interview, NWEA’s Greg King shares how recent updates to College Explorer make it an even more powerful tool to help students, families, teachers, and counselors navigate—and prepare for—post-secondary options.
By: Greg King
Topics: College & career readiness


Mapping the road to college
College Explorer from NWEA® helps students, parents, and teachers develop pathways to higher education. This powerful tool links MAP® Growth™ scores with national benchmarks for colleges, universities, and even specific majors.
By: Greg King
Topics: College & career readiness, High school, Innovations in reporting & assessment


Study: Summer school for EL students could boost 4-year graduation rates
A summer school program for high school English learners who have lived in the U.S. for less than three years increased the number of core courses those students took that are required for graduation.
Education Dive
Mentions: Angela Johnson
Topics: English Language Learners, College & career readiness, Equity


A path to completion? The impacts of statewide articulation agreements on enrollment and attainment
This study measures the effect of adopting statewide articulation agreement policies on college enrollment, associate degree attainment, and bachelor’s degree attainment using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Educational Data Systems (IPEDS).
By: Greg King
Topics: College & career readiness


Summer credit recovery impact on newcomer English Learners
This article investigates the efficacy of a summer credit recovery program aimed at expanding high school newcomer ELs’ access to academic subjects.
By: Angela Johnson
Topics: English Language Learners, College & career readiness