Bridge of Promise: Comparing the Academic Outcomes of Kalamazoo Promise to Public School Students in a 4-Year Institution

Abstract

This quantitative study compares Kalamazoo Promise (KPromise) students to non-Promise, public high school graduating students at the 4-year institution at which the largest number of KPromise students have enrolled and graduated. The sample was generated from 2009-12 Fall cohorts. To add depth and proxies for financial and academic advantages, we joined institutional longitudinal administrative data with high school and permanent residency characteristics. The final sample for this study was N=9,969; n=310 (3%) were KPromise students. Descriptive analysis suggests that KPromise students are racially more diverse and less affluent than non-Promise students. Unweighted regressions in which the differences between KPromise and other students are insufficiently account for show that being a KPromise student was correlated with lower College GPA (β=-0.10), increased chance of Academic Dismissal (OR=1.43), and lowered likelihood of Degree Attainment (OR=0.68). Correlations were not found with Academic Warning or Probation. Weighting the sample using Inverse Probability Weighing with Regression Adjustment (IPWRA), being KPromise was not significantly correlated to any of the outcomes examined. Indicating that KPromise students accessing the site institution are unique; after arrival, they perform similarly in some respects to reasonably-comparable students from other public schools. Discussion centers on how findings expand current knowledge regarding KPromise and counters recent narratives regarding tuition-free programs.