Case Study Findings

The Brainomics^® team at Center for BrainHealth and the Momentous Institute research team explored the long-term benefits of teaching children about mental health and brain-based skills starting at age three. The study followed 73 alumni from Momentous School six years after high school graduation, revealing impressive outcomes compared to national low-income students:

• 97% of Momentous School alumni graduated high school (vs. 78% of their peers)
• 79% of Momentous School alumni pursued higher education (vs. 43% of their peers)
• 48% of Momentous School alumni earned a college degree (vs. 12% of their peers)

Beyond academics, the group's lifetime earnings are projected to reach $157 million, delivering a remarkable return on investment of up to 24-to-1 compared to students from low-income schools. These projected student earnings are:

• 26% more than students from low-income schools in the U.S.
• 15% more than average-income students in the U.S.
• 9% more than students from high-income schools in the U.S.

"Graduates of Momentous School are achieving far above expectations," explained Dr. Jessica Gomez, Executive Director and psychologist of Momentous Institute. "We know that academic success translates into significant economic impact, and the results show Momentous School Alumni are projected to earn 15% more than the national average students. This demonstrates that our model is successful because we focus on the whole person and integrate neuroscience with all aspects of mental health and wellbeing. No one regrets, or forgets, learning about how their brain works and how mental health is critical to overall health."

Notably, the study shows that Momentous School's curriculum achieves these outcomes at a per-student cost comparable to the average cost of public education in Texas, proving that their educational model does not require a higher baseline investment to implement. Further, the school is deeply committed to each student's long-term success, investing in everything from daily essentials like nutritious meals to future opportunities such as college scholarships. On average, this comprehensive support adds up to an estimated $19,200 investment per student.

"The numbers are quite extraordinary, confirming that investing early in brain health pays off and delivers both education and economic returns," said Dr. Andrew S. Nevin, inaugural director of the Brainomics Venture at Center for BrainHealth. "Our analysis shows that Momentous School alumni are not only more likely to graduate from high school and earn college degrees, but also to achieve higher lifetime earnings compared to their peers."

The findings highlight the profound impact of incorporating mental health informed brain strategies into education at an early stage. By adopting a curriculum rooted in mental health and neuroscience, Momentous School is equipping students with the tools to achieve measurable, lifelong success.

Report Methodology 

To understand the long-term economic implications of this kind of early investment in brain and mental health, the Brainomics and Momentous Institute team analyzed academic achievement six years after high school graduation for 73 alumni from Momentous School's 2016-2018 graduating cohorts. Researchers then projected their lifetime earnings and compared outcomes to three comparison groups¹:

• Students from low-income schools in the U.S. (representing the likely alternative path for Momentous School alumni)
• Students from average-income schools
• Students from high-income schools in the U.S.