'On-track' a better predictor of high school graduation than test scores

'On track' measures academic performance in the first year of high school and guages whether a student is making sufficient progress to be on track to graduate within four years.  This measure, defined by the Consortium on Chicago School Research, is a better predictor of high school graduation than eighth grade test scores or student background characteristics.  It has been implemented by the Chicago Public Schools, and may prove useful to other school districts and systems.