Research Shows DreamBox Math Improves Florida Assessment Scores and Delivers a 196% ROI
Recent independent research conducted by the School District of Osceola County evaluated DreamBox Math by Discovery Education — an adaptive, curriculum-aligned math program that combines continuous formative assessment with personalized instruction. The district’s analysis found a measurable, positive impact on Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) outcomes and determined that DreamBox Math qualifies as a “highly successful intervention.” After accounting for essential implementation costs, including professional learning, teacher compensation, and internet connectivity, the district calculated a Return on Investment (ROI) of 196%.
Osceola County Schools serves roughly 80,000 students across 56 non-charter and 25 charter schools. The student population is diverse, representing 140 countries and speaking more than 98 languages. Approximately 25% of students participate in the district’s English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. In fall 2021, the district deployed DreamBox Math in two schools, providing access to 934 students. During the 2021–2022 school year, students spent over one million minutes working in the program and completed 113,158 lessons.
The district’s research team examined the program’s effects with the goal of answering key evaluation questions:
- Is success within DreamBox Math associated with stronger performance on the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)?
- What relationship exists between DreamBox Math implementation and academic growth?
- To what degree does adopting DreamBox Math influence measurable student outcomes?
- What financial return does the district realize by investing in DreamBox Math, when implementation costs are considered?
After reviewing relevant student usage and assessment data, Osceola researchers reported several consistent findings. First, student progress within DreamBox Math — measured as growth across units and lessons — was associated with higher FSA scores. Second, higher overall usage correlated with FSA outcomes above district averages, and the strongest effects were observed among students who engaged with the program at the recommended levels. These relationships held when controlling for typical classroom and student-level factors considered in the district’s internal analyses.
Importantly, the size of DreamBox Math’s unique contribution to state assessment performance was sufficient for Osceola to classify the program as a “highly successful intervention.” In their internal comparisons, district researchers also found that DreamBox Math’s impact on assessment scores compared favorably to other digital interventions evaluated locally, including iReady and Penda.
Beyond achievement gains, the district’s ROI analysis considered the total cost of program adoption. By integrating expenditures for professional learning, teacher time, and connectivity alongside the observed academic benefits, the district arrived at a 196% return on investment. This figure reflects the district’s estimate of educational gains relative to the expenses required to implement and sustain the intervention at scale.
Lisa Katz, Vice President of Research and Analytics at Discovery Education, commented on the findings: “The School District of Osceola County’s careful research into the district’s return on investment in Discovery Education’s adaptive digital resources offers a powerful new way of assessing the effectiveness of digital resources. We are proud to share Osceola’s findings in the hope that other districts will find both this data and research methodology helpful.”
The district’s research brief provides a concise summary of methods, usage statistics, and key findings. A full Research Brief was prepared to document the study approach and outcomes for district leaders, educators, and other stakeholders. Educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources also have access to a professional learning community that supports implementation and shares best practices.
This evaluation from Osceola County highlights how targeted, adaptive digital instruction—when paired with systematic implementation and professional learning—can support measurable gains on state assessments and yield substantial returns on investment. The district’s findings add to a growing body of evidence that well-implemented adaptive math programs can be an effective component of a comprehensive K–12 mathematics strategy.