In the global pursuit of educational equity, one innovative strategy gaining considerable traction involves fostering partnerships between high-performing and underperforming schools. This collaborative model seeks to bolster academic outcomes by creating networks through which best practices, leadership expertise, and resources are actively exchanged. The approach, evident in diverse educational landscapes including the United States, Europe, Chile, and China, emphasizes the notion that collective efforts can remedy challenges faced by struggling schools. Nowhere is this more distinctly illustrated than in Shanghai’s ambitious Strong School Project (SSP), a multi-year initiative that pairs elite schools with their less successful counterparts to catalyze reform and elevate student achievement.
A newly published study in the ECNU Review of Education delineates the empirical underpinnings behind the success of this collaboration-based model. The research meticulously analyzes data collected from the SSP’s active years between 2018 and 2021, providing robust statistical evidence that the carefully structured school-to-school partnerships materially enhance student performance, particularly in core subjects such as mathematics, Chinese, English, and science. This marks a significant validation for policymakers and educational leaders who champion inter-school collaboration as a scalable reform mechanism within complex urban educational systems.
This groundbreaking investigation was spearheaded by Dr. Maohua Wang of the Shanghai Teacher Institute in conjunction with Dr. Huacong Liu from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Employing an array of sophisticated quantitative methodologies — including difference-in-differences (DID) design, propensity score matching paired with DID, as well as causal mediation analysis — the researchers have unraveled the multifaceted ways through which the SSP’s intervention influenced student outcomes. Their work provides not only statistical rigor but also contextual insights into the processes mediating these effects, moving beyond correlation to potential causation.
According to Wang and Liu, the data reveals remarkable improvements in student test scores attributable to participation in the SSP. Mathematics scores showed an uplift of 0.67 standard deviations, while Chinese language scores increased by 0.63 standard deviations. These figures indicate not just marginal gains but substantive shifts in student achievement that can fundamentally alter educational trajectories. Such improvements make a compelling case for the potency of collaborative educational reform frameworks, particularly in challenging school environments.
A critical insight emerging from the study identifies peer relationships as the paramount mediating variable driving these gains. When students foster healthy, supportive peer networks, their academic engagement and achievement rise substantially. Wang and Liu contend that these interpersonal dynamics create fertile ground for enhanced learning experiences and resilience, illustrating that academic success is deeply intertwined with social and emotional factors within school settings. Moreover, the strengthening of principal leadership within SSP schools emerged as a significant contributor to these educational advances, underscoring the role of effective school management in sustaining improvement efforts.
Yet, intriguingly, the study found no significant alterations in teaching styles between SSP and control schools despite pronounced enhancements in other domains. This finding suggests that while leadership and peer engagement advanced, pedagogical approaches remained largely consistent, challenging prevailing assumptions that instructional methods must dramatically change for performance to improve. Instead, it highlights that strategic leadership and social climate improvements might, in some contexts, drive academic progress independently of immediate pedagogical reform.
The SSP’s impact extended beyond student test scores, affecting the broader fabric of school climate and leadership development. Each participating school benefitted from substantial targeted investments, with funding totaling approximately 1 million RMB per school over three years. These resources were allocated towards modernizing infrastructure, establishing advanced science laboratories and libraries, and curating cutting-edge course offerings including robotics, artificial intelligence, and programming. This comprehensive enhancement of physical and curricular assets was designed to create enriched learning environments conducive to deeper student engagement.
An integral aspect of the SSP’s strategy was the pairing of principals from lower-performing schools with mentors drawn from accomplished school leaders and university experts. This mentorship facilitated continuous leadership development tailored to the contexts’ unique challenges. Additionally, the program orchestrated city-wide teacher rotation schemes that embedded subject specialists and instructional coaches within SSP schools, reinforcing curriculum coherence and pedagogical refinement. This multi-layered support network not only enhanced educational leadership but also fostered a culture of professional collaboration and innovation.
The resultant transformation within participating schools was palpable. The initiative engendered a shift towards a student-centered climate characterized by strengthened peer relationships and heightened engagement. SSP schools reported improvements in student motivation and academic ethos, accompanied by a more adaptive and responsive leadership culture. However, the research highlighted nuanced challenges: principals transferring from high-performing to struggling schools often found their prior leadership experiences insufficient for addressing entrenched issues such as teacher morale and student disengagement. This underscored the necessity for leadership development programs to be context-sensitive and adaptive.
Dr. Liu emphasizes this point, advocating for leadership training programs that respect the distinct needs of underperforming schools. “Principals in struggling schools require specialized training that prioritizes curriculum integration and mechanisms to boost staff motivation,” Liu explains. This insight foregrounds leadership as a dynamic skill set rather than a fixed capacity, emphasizing the importance of bespoke interventions to match school-specific realities and challenges.
Despite the compelling findings, the researchers acknowledge several limitations warranting consideration. The study’s focus on Grade 9 students narrows the scope of applicability, potentially limiting generalizations across other educational levels. Furthermore, the research evaluated instructional leadership exclusively, omitting other facets of school administration such as resource management or community engagement, which could also affect learning outcomes. Finally, the voluntary nature of SSP school participation introduces potential selection bias, as schools predisposed to reform may inherently produce better results compared to less motivated counterparts.
Nonetheless, the implications of this study resonate powerfully across international educational landscapes. The empirical demonstration that strategic school-to-school collaboration can elevate student learning represents a pivotal advancement in educational reform strategies. By explicitly showcasing the mechanisms — peer relationships and leadership development — through which collaboration exerts its influence, this research offers a replicable model for other jurisdictions aiming to redress disparities in educational achievement.
In a global context where educational systems are often challenged by resource inequities and achievement gaps, the SSP’s success story provides a pragmatic blueprint. By channeling funds, expertise, and leadership capacity from high-performing to struggling schools, educational systems can nurture more equitable opportunities for student success. This evidence-rich approach advocates for policy frameworks that embed collaboration, mentorship, and targeted investment as cornerstones of school improvement efforts.
Ultimately, the Shanghai Strong School Project study elucidates an inspiring paradigm that transcends geographic and cultural boundaries. It confirms that collaboration is more than an educational buzzword; when engineered thoughtfully and supported adequately, it becomes a powerful engine for transforming school environments and student futures. The path forward lies in scaling such models with fidelity and contextual responsiveness, setting the stage for a more inclusive and effective global education system.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: School-to-School Collaboration, Student Learning Outcomes, and Mediating Factors: Evidence From Shanghai’s Strong School Project
News Publication Date: 9-May-2025
Web References: https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311251330932
References: Wang, M., & Liu, H. (2025). School-to-School Collaboration, Student Learning Outcomes, and Mediating Factors: Evidence From Shanghai’s Strong School Project. ECNU Review of Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311251330932
Keywords: Education research, Education policy, Students, High school education, Academic ethics, Graduate education, Social sciences
