Examining The Relationship Between School Climate and Graduation Rates for Predominately African-American High Schools
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Date
2019-09-30
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Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy
Program
Doctor of Education
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Abstract
The purpose of this correlational study is to examine the relationship between the school climate and the graduation rate amongst students in a predominantly African American school district in a mid-Atlantic state. Using the School Climate Survey along with components of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of human development theory as the framework, this study employed a quantitative correlational design. The secondary data for the study were extracted from the urban school district’s database and websites of 21 traditional high schools, where 33,621 students participated and responded to the school district’s School Climate Survey. Three graduation rates as defined by the U. S. Department of Education, served as the dependent variable. The eight subscale
scores on the School Climate Survey were used to predict high school graduation rates.
The regression models for predicting the three graduation rates were significant. However, students’ perceptions of Effective Teaching, Challenging and Relevant Curriculum, High Expectations for All Students, Positive and Nurturing Environment, Effective Plant Operations, Safe and Orderly Environment, and Meaningful Use of Data were not predictive of high school graduation rates. Only Parental Involvement was found to be predictive of the graduation rates. It is important to note that the lowest ratings from students were Effective Plant Operations, Safety and Discipline, and Parental Involvement.