Opportunity youth

Youth aged 16-24 neither in school nor employed

Definition: Percent of 16-24 year olds in Massachusetts who are neither in school nor employed.

These youth, often referred to as “disconnected” or “opportunity” youth, may or may not have completed a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) credential. They also may or may not have enrolled in and attended a postsecondary education institution at some point.

This indicator is included in the Preparation & Transitions section of the Condition of Education in the Commonwealth Data Report focusing on a range of learning experiences to ensure college and career readiness. Critical steps include completion of ninth grade coursework and mastery of a rigorous program of study. Steps must also be taken to prevent students from dropping out, as well as to reengage and recover youth disconnected from school and/or employment to ensure future learning and success.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey; Tabulations prepared by staff at the Boston Private Industry Council

*While comparing indicators, please keep in mind that different data sources use different definitions of student subgroups.

Blog

Rethinking Grading

March 28, 2024

Schools have assessed student learning and growth with essentially the same grading system for more than a century. Since this system was created, the field has learned so much more about the way students learn, the systemic inequities embedded in the design of traditional grading and assessment, and what type of learning leads to success in life. Grading should be aligned with what we know about the learning process, child and adolescent development, and the demands of career, college, and community life. But traditional grading is so deeply ingrained in our culture, that making changes to this system can seem like an insurmountable task. That’s why we partnered with DESE and reDesign to support five unique high schools as they interrogate their traditional grading practices and make shifts toward new systems that better measure student learning and growth.