According to the National College Attainment Network (NCAN, 2023), each year, thousands of high school graduates leave billions of dollars in federal student aid unclaimed because they do not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To holistically investigate this phenomenon, this dissertation accomplished three goals. The…

This quantitative dissertation examined the differences between young men and women's perceptions of mathematics and science identity, self-efficacy, and utility. There are gender norms and stereotypes that impact identity, self-efficacy, and perceived utility of mathematics and science. The secondary data analyzed were drawn from the follow-up…

The transition from middle to high school can be especially challenging for students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Also, students with disabilities experience greater barriers when considering careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Academic interest and social support may play a critical role…

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether teacher support mediates the relationship between students' sense of school belonging and academic achievement. Using 2 case periods of panel data from the Connecticut Department of Education, I used Baron and Kenny mediation analyses and a fixed-effects regression model to investigate data from…

This study applies life course theory (Elder, 1998) to understand the effect of different mathematics course progressions throughout the high school transition period. The purpose of the study was two-fold: to investigate the effectiveness of two different high school's mathematics course progressions by examining mathematics achievement…

The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) curriculum emphasizes writing, collaboration, organization, and reading to strengthen academic skills. High school students enrolled in AVID elective classes receive daily academic support, while enrolled in challenging classes such as Advanced Placement (AP). The purpose of this study was to…

Thousands of American's enter postsecondary institutions every year and many are under prepared for college-level work. Subsequently, students enroll in or are placed in remedial courses in preparation for the rigor of college level classes. Numerous studies have looked at the impact of developmental course work on student outcomes, but few focus…

This study shows that minority students who, based upon a standardized test, have shown a high academic performance capability have a readiness for rigorous courses in high school and can sustain high academic achievement over time when compared to non-minority peers. Therefore, the on-going question for many educators needs to be why doesn't…

The content area of social studies has not been given as much attention as its counterparts despite its inclusion in the state wide TAKS exam in Texas. All students in grades 8, 10, and 11 are required to take the social studies portion, and must pass it in order to graduate. The consequences of such a test and the importance of social studies in…

In many schools, standardized tests are used to determine school effectiveness in instruction. School districts spend money, implement research, and look for new ways to improve on these metrics of academic achievement. Researchers have shown that athletic participation has helped to lead to academic success at a macro level; however less is known…

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference in academic achievement on the California Standards Tests (CSTs) in English and mathematics of students enrolled in the California Partnership Academy compared to the nonacademy population. A second purpose was to analyze the percentage of first-time passage…

The No Child Left Behind Act is a mandate from the federal government for education to increase student performance and school accountability. As a result of this mandate, many states have issued the use of high-stakes standardized tests as a means of monitoring schools' accountability. New York State administers the English Language Arts (ELA)…

The nation's recent preoccupation with reshaping academics and raising academic performance has all but overpowered a task of vital importance--educating our young people to become engaged citizens of their communities. Traditionally, students are taught citizenship skills in either a civics education class or through citizenship courses in the…