Alissa Matthies

Alissa Matthies is the Operations and Project Management Specialist at the UChicago Consortium on School Research.  She supports research activities across the UChicago Consortium through designing and maintaining core operational practices and developing resources for the team.

Omeca Wadley

Omeca Wadley joined the Consortium as Special Assistant to the Executive Director. She has supported UChicago leadership in University Communications, the Office of Research and National Laboratories, and Arts + Public Life. She is a seasoned administrative professional with over 15 years of experience in areas of Real Estate, Healthcare, Development and Education.

Full-day pre–k programs lead to better long-term outcomes for dual language learners

After months of deliberation and negotiation with Congress, President Biden unveiled the Build Back Better Framework on October 28, 2021. This framework encapsulates tangible legislative actions to see through many of President Biden’s campaign promises, like the proposal to implement universal pre–K for all three-and four-year-olds. Previous research has found that universal access to pre–K has a positive impact on students’ academic performance and can also reap longer-term benefits to the U.S. economy.

More Chicago students are going to college

Even as more Chicago students go to college, the neighborhood where they live — not just the high school they attend — has a major impact on whether they ultimately attain a degree. New research from the University of Chicago’s To&Through Project shows that community areas have a significant impact on educational attainment outcomes — findings that researchers say underscore the need for deeper investments in housing security, health care access, and transportation to address the barriers facing Chicago students...

Chicago’s 5-year high school graduation rate hits record amid the pandemic

Despite the pandemic’s disruption, Chicago high school students graduated at a record high rate for the second year in a row this past spring, with upticks for students of all races.

Overall, 83.8% of students graduated in five years in 2021, compared with a rate of 82.5% last year, the district said Thursday. That increase comes after a year of largely remote learning, marked by increases in failing grades and drops in attendance, especially for students of color...

Ella Marrero

As a Research Analyst at the UChicago Consortium, Ella cleans large-scale databases and conducts statistical analyses to help create and maintain resources that support students, teachers, and administrators in CPS. Prior to joining the UChicago Consortium, Ella worked as a Data Archive Research Assistant for the Committee on Education at the University of Chicago. She also previously worked as a lab assistant, behavioral science consultant, and barista. Ella is interested in integrating data-driven research with practice to effectively improve students' experiences.

Subscribe to