By Phil Grimaldi, senior efficacy and research scientist at Khan Academy.
The evidence is clear—Khan Academy works. Study after study confirms that using Khan Academy leads to better math performance and attitudes. Whether it’s higher standardized test scores, better grades, or increased college readiness, the data tells a consistent story. Khan Academy’s personalized and engaging platform helps students worldwide achieve more in math. In this key post, we share a selection of high-quality research studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of Khan Academy. The studies are organized by the quality of evidence, according to the Every Child Succeeds Act (ESSA). Read about how our platform outpaces typical growth rates and drives learning outcomes.
Well-designed and implemented experimental studies (Tier 1, Strong evidence)
Weekly usage of Khan Academy resulted in positive effects on math scores and attitudes towards math when implemented with adequate support, according to Ferman, Finamor, & Lima (2019), who conducted a large-scale randomized-control trial across 157 primary schools in Brazil. [pdf]
Supplemental use of Khan Academy resulted in better math scores than teacher-only interventions, according to Buchel, Jakob, Kuhnhanss, Seffen, & Brunetti (2019), who conducted a large-scale randomized-control trial with ~3500 third- through sixth-grade students in El Salvador. [pdf]
Students who used Khan Academy during a 19-day summer program had better algebra-readiness scores, according to Snipes, Huang, Jaquet, & Finkelstein (2015), who conducted a randomized-control trial with 496 seventh-grade students in a Silicon Valley school district. [pdf]
Well-designed and implemented quasi-experimental studies (Tier 2, Moderate evidence)
Students who used supplemental Khan Academy in blended classrooms also had higher performance on a standardized math assessment, according to a quasi-experimental study with ninth-grade students in Sri Lanka (Weeraratne & Chin, 2018). [pdf]
Students who used Khan Academy were more likely to have better math performance than a traditional math intervention program, according to the results of a quasi-experimental study of third- and sixth-grade students in Guatemala (Manuas, 2016). [pdf]
Well-designed and implemented correlational studies (Tier 3, Promising evidence)
Students who used Khan Academy MAP Accelerator for 30 minutes or more per week saw better MAP Growth math scores compared to students who used MAP Accelerator for less time. This was the main finding of a correlational study with statistical controls conducted by Weatherholtz, Grimaldi, & Hill (2022). [pdf]
Students who spent more time using Khan Academy’s Official SAT prep tool were more likely to score higher on the SAT, according to correlational studies with controls (Weatherholtz, Grimaldi, Hicks, & Hill, 2020; College Board, 2017). [pdf][pdf]
Use of Khan Academy among middle school students in the Long Beach Unified School District was linked to better performance on a standardized assessment, according to a correlational study by Hill, Weatherholtz, & Chattergoon (2018). [pdf]
Community college students who used Khan Academy were more likely to score higher on the ACCUPLACER math assessment, according to a study by Chan, O’Conner, & Peat (2016). [pdf]
Read more about how our platform consistently drives results that surpass typical growth expectations.
Phil Grimaldi
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