A project of the Afterschool Alliance.

Oregon MESA: Increasing the odds of high school graduation

Year Published: 2020

A 2020 evaluation of the Oregon chapter of the Mathematics, Engineering & Science Achievement (MESA) afterschool program found positive impacts on academic achievement and high school graduation. Using a quasi-experimental design, researchers found that MESA students had higher science test scores and were significantly more likely to graduate from high school compared to their matched non-participating peers. Researchers wrote that, “This relationship suggests MESA participation has a tangible and important effect on high school graduation.” 

Program Name: Mathematics, Engineering & Science Achievement (MESA)

Program Description:

Mathematics, Engineering & Science Achievement (MESA) is a national, pre-college academic afterschool program that serves underrepresented, minority students in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The program helps students develop STEM and other 21st century skills with the goals of better preparing students for graduation from high school, enrolling in postsecondary education, and finding a career.  

Scope of the Evaluation: Statewide

Program Type: Afterschool

Location: Oregon

Grade level: Middle School, High School

Program Demographics:

MESA serves students who are underrepresented in the STEM fields. Of those included in this study, 35 percent were English language learners, 76 percent qualified for free and reduce price lunch, and 23 percent were identified as students with special needs. Regarding race and ethnicity, 35 percent identified as White, 32 percent identified as Hispanic/Latino, 15 percent as Asian/Pacific Islander, 10 percent as African American/Black, and 8 percent as “other.” 

Program Website: https://oregonmesa.org/

Evaluator: Greenberg Motamedi, J., Serrano, D., & Hanson, H. Education Northwest

Evaluation Methods:

This evaluation compared MESA students to a matched sample of Oregon students who did not participate in the program. The study identified 431 6th-8th grade students who participated in MESA in middle school from 2009-10 to 2013-14, and matched non-participants by race, gender, grade level, state assessments, and eligibility for free or reduced price lunch, special education services, and English language learner services. A regression analysis was conducted to examine to the relationship of MESA participation to student performance on state assessments in English language arts, math, and science, and high school graduation. 

Evaluation Type: Quasi-experimental

Summary of Outcomes:

A 2020 evaluation of the Oregon chapter of the Mathematics, Engineering & Science Achievement (MESA) afterschool program found significant positive impacts on high school graduation. It was found that students in the MESA program were significantly more likely to graduate from high school compared to their matched peers. Eighty-seven percent of MESA students graduated from high school in four years compared with 73 percent of the comparison group. MESA students were 3.13 times more likely to graduate from high school in four years compared to their matched non-participating peers. This is equivalent to a 21 percent increase in the probability of graduating high school in four years.

Additionally, on average, MESA students had higher science assessment scores in both 8th grade and high school, however, the differences were not statistically significant. By high school, no significant differences were found for math or reading/English language art scores. 

Date Added: July 7, 2021