Project Summary

This project examined the trajectories of academic recovery of schools following natural disasters, in order to help inform post-disaster recovery efforts. More specifically, the project had two aims: to identify patterns of school post-disaster recovery and to examine potential risk factors associated with these patterns. To address both aims, we conducted quantitative analyses of data from public schools in the path of Hurricane Ike (2008). These data included school demographic information and standardized testing results from pre-disaster (2003-2008) and post-disaster (2009-2011) periods.

Measurement & Metrics

Academic performance was quantified via results of standardized testing. We also collected data to represent the socio-demographics of each school.

Key Findings

• Two school academic recovery trajectories were identified: Low-Interrupted and High-Stable.
• Low-Interrupted school recovery trajectory refers to increasing academic trajectory that was interrupted by and exhibited significant change after Hurricane Ike.
• High-Stable school recovery trajectory refers to an academic trajectory that did not appear to change dramatically after Hurricane Ike.
• Low school attendance and higher percentage of economically disadvantaged youth were risk factors that increased the likelihood of schools falling into the Low-Interrupted school recovery trajectory.