Persisting through the Pandemic and Beyond

Boston Public Schools graduating classes are enrolling and persisting in postsecondary education at higher levels than during COVID-19, but how well have they caught up with where they were before the pandemic? That's the central question in a new assessment of BPS postsecondary enrollment and completion conducted by the Boston Private Industry Council in collaboration with the Boston Foundation.

The report, entitled Persisting Through the Pandemic and Beyond: Trends in the College Enrollment, Persistence, and Completion Experiences of BPS Graduates, also noted disparities in college enrollment and completion for BPS graduates across gender and race-ethnic groups, and a persistent gap between Boston’s exam and non-exam schools.

The Boston PIC and TBF are no strangers to this data, which they have studied over the past two decades as part of their ongoing efforts to improve not just student success in high school, but also in their chosen postsecondary pursuits. The new report gives a fuller picture of just how lasting an impact the COVID pandemic had on students, and offers insights on how we might continue the recovery and continue to improve student results.