The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Ball Aptitude Battery (BAB) on a high school freshman sample; (2) develop BAB norms for high school freshmen; (3) develop and evaluate four memory tests and a vocabulary test appropriate for freshmen; (4) examine level and structure differences for the BAB tests…

Because the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Act Land Grant colleges feature predominantly white or predominantly black student enrollments, a study to assess similarities and differences of the respective student bodies was undertaken. A selected sample of students at all southern land grant institutions was asked in the spring of 1977 to respond to a…

First published in 2002, "Key Facts about Higher Education in Washington" provides valuable information on the ways higher education serves the state and its people. The most current data and information available is presented throughout this report to highlight the "Key Facts" about Washington's postsecondary institutions,…

This report expands and updates the information provided in the "National Assessment of Title I Interim Report" that was released in April 2006. New data on the implementation of Title I are provided on the targeting and uses of Title I funds, services for private school students, characteristics of students participating in the school…

The federal requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) have placed a new focus on increasing graduation rates and reducing dropout rates. While the dropout problem has generated research and new programs over the last 30 years, the dropout rate has remained relatively unchanged. Students drop out of school for many reasons, and the…

With the mandate of "No Child Left Behind," high-stakes achievement testing is firmly in place in every state. The few studies that have explored the effectiveness of high-stakes testing using NAEP scores have yielded mixed results. This study considered state demographic characteristics for each NAEP testing period in reading, writing,…

This study examined some factors influencing college students' choice of field of study. A model of student choice of major focused on students' perceptions of labor market conditions, personality development, college campus experience of academic and social integration, and use of information available on campus was established. The issues…

Data on 1980 college and university enrollments and trends observed for the preceding several years are presented. Information is provided on enrollment in institutions of higher education by control and level of institution, student sex, and attendance status of student, major field of study, and race/ethnicity. Specific data include: enrollment…

This report reviews six recently published books on the education of urban and minority youth, and the social and cultural environment in which they live. "The Homeless in Contemporary Society" (edited by R. D. Bingham, R. E. Green, and S. B. White), is a primer on homelessness in America. "Gender Influences in Classroom…

Detailed profiles of the ethnic, racial, male, and female populations of 1984 graduating high school seniors are presented, based on findings of the College Board's Admissions Testing Program and the Student Descriptive Questionnaire. The degree of similarity in background and experience can be assessed for males and females and for the following…

This study relates the personal characteristics, high school experiences, and college experiences of students pursuing a baccalaureate degree to the type of institution they attended and their ethnicity. Multivariate analysis was performed on data drawn from the High School and Beyond database. Summary conclusions include the following: (1)…

Some findings about attrition from two- and four-year colleges and universities based on the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS) are presented. Attrition is defined as withdrawal from college without completing a degree. After 2 years, the four-year institutions had lost 23.5 percent of their entrants. More two-year…

This paper develops and estimates a model of the educational process. Most researchers have relied on a single equation, educational production function, which is an unrealistic formulation. A pupil's achievement, motivation, expectations, self-concept, and his perceived parents' and teachers' expectations are determined jointly, not…

This study used data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 and follow-up data collected in 1990, 1992, and 1994, to examine the characteristics and personal/educational factors related to gifted high school dropouts (n=3,520). Results indicate: (1) many gifted students left school because they were failing school, did not like…

A study of 12,388 entering medical students investigated the predictive validity of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) by comparing prediction errors for grade point average across racial/ethnic and gender groups. Results show no prediction errors for gender, overprediction of performance for racial/ethnic group, particularly Asians and…