Mathematics Performance of ALEKS Users on a State Test across Two Years in the Rural Midwest

The study examines the impact of the ALEKS adaptive math solution on student performance in a medium-sized rural public school district in the Midwest. ALEKS was implemented in grades 6–11 during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, with 3,954 students using the program in the first year and 2,029 in the second year.

The methodology involved a correlation study, analyzing associations between ALEKS usage and state test outcomes. Statistical methods included Pearson correlations and comparisons of scale scores between ALEKS users and non-users. Outcomes focused on state summative assessments, with performance levels categorized as Advanced, Proficient, or Non-Proficient.

Results showed that ALEKS users generally outperformed non-users in state test scale scores across both years, particularly in grades 9 and 10. For example, in 2023-2024, grade 9 ALEKS users had an average scale score of 568.99 compared to 509.97 for non-users (p < .001). Additionally, the number of topics completed in ALEKS correlated strongly with higher scale scores, with the strongest correlation observed in grade 8 (r = 0.83, p < .001 in 2022-2023). Students who passed the state test (Advanced or Proficient) completed significantly more topics and spent more hours in ALEKS than Non-Proficient students.

Longitudinal analysis of students using ALEKS for two consecutive years revealed higher scale scores and passing rates compared to non-users. For instance, 66% of longitudinal users were in Advanced or Proficient levels, compared to 59% of single-year-users.

The study concludes that ALEKS usage is associated with statistically significant improvements in state test performance, particularly for students in grades 9 and 10.