The purpose of this quantitative study was to provide school district leaders and policymakers information of the impact grade configuration had on academic performance using math and ELA ILEARN scores over a three-year period. The study included data from 585 schools that were classified into four groups: Elementary Setting, Intermediate Setting,…

Motivation and nine other factors were measured for 970 students in grades five through eight in a study of factors predicting achievement and predicting motivation. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

This sixth chapter in "The Challenge of Counseling in Middle Schools" presents four articles on academic achievement in early adolescence. "Succeeding in Middle School: A Multimodal Approach," by Edwin Gerler, Jr., Nancy Shannon Drew, and Phyllis Mohr, describes a study conducted to examine the effects of the multimodal program, "Succeeding in…

A study examined the interrelationship of 322 fifth- through eighth-grade students' television viewing patterns, school achievement, and intelligence quotient, using television show content preference as a possible correlational factor. Results confirm other research findings showing small negative relations among television viewing, achievement,…

Examined relationship between relative age and achievement in middle school by investigating standardized mathematics and reading scores for 933 students. Found significant differences among relative age groups in only one area, sixth-grade reading. Found no main effect for gender and no interaction between age and gender in sixth, seventh, or…

This article evaluates five causal model of educational productivity applied to learning science in a sample of 882 fifth through eighth graders. Each model explores the relationship between achievement and a combination of eight constructs: home environment, peer group, media, ability, social environment, time on task, motivation, and…

Although researchers and reformers consider school climate an important aspect of effective schools, the concept is difficult to measure. This paper uses a health metaphor to conceptualize and measure school climate. It examines relationships between school health and student achievement in a sample of New Jersey middle schools. Organizational…

Administrators who focus on school-community relations for an uninterrupted time daily or several times each week will strongly affect community relations, parental involvement, and, ultimately, student achievement. (MLF)

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the largest and most ambitious international study of mathematics and science achievement ever undertaken, with more than 500,000 school students in 45 countries being tested in mathematics and science at five different school year levels. South Africa is the first country in Africa…

A study of 168 students and eight teachers from grades six through eight showed that entering achievement level and teacher use of objectives during instruction are significant predictors of student achievement. Allocated learning time and absenteeism were not found to be significant variables in explaining achievement. (Author/RM)

Examines the Home Tutorial Program in the San Fernando Valley of California in the areas of organization, parent attitudes, learning environment, achievement, and socialization. Compare the home program with the Los Angeles Unified School District. (IRT)

Finds that academic preferences of students in grades five, six, and eight for mathematics were near the midpoint of Mathematics Preference Index, whereas those for seventh graders were substantially below it. Shows a preference for mathematics to be negatively correlated with measures of academic achievement. (SR)

Ebata (1985) showed that among young adolescent boys high achievement was associated with better adjustment while low achievement was associated with poorer adjustment. A study was conducted to determine whether this pattern would generalize to links between achievement and self-image for boys and to describe the pattern of relationship between…

This study investigates the relationship between the length of the school year and student achievement on standardized tests. Achievement scores of students from two different school systems were analyzed. Comparisons showed that increasing the length of the school year would not produce marked change in test scored performance. (Author/JAZ)

Students in the Portland, Oregon, public schools who achieve the state standards for grade 10 receive a Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) to document their achievement. Students who do not meet the standards may continue to be tested throughout their high school years, but they may receive a diploma without achieving a CIM. To offer additional…