Date of Award
Spring 5-10-2024
Document Type
Dissertation (799 registration)
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
Department
Graduate Studies
Committee Chair
Ximena Suarez-Sousa
Keywords
high school graduation rates, high school dropout rates, student perceptions, correlational study, grades 9-12, graduation support
Abstract
Addressing barriers to high school graduation is essential to decreasing dropout rates. Schools provide various supports for students on their pathway to graduation with varying effects on preventing dropout. Research studies indicate that students’ perceptions of the school and staff influence educational attainment. This post-positivist, correlational research study examined three research questions including students’ perceptions of the school and staff, students’ perceptions of graduation supports, and whether specific supports correlate to more positive student perceptions of the school and staff. Through a convenience sample, 21 students at a small, alternative high school in Minnesota completed two questionnaires. Questionnaires consisted of demographic questions and questions about their perceptions of the school and graduation supports received at the school. Both descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to explore relationships among variables. Participants indicated overall positive perceptions of the school, staff at the school, and specific supports. The results using Spearman rank order correlation indicated that there was no correlation between the total number of graduation supports received and a students’ Panorama Student Survey composite scores. However, a moderate, positive correlation was found between the School Belonging category and the total number of graduation supports. Additionally, a moderate high, positive correlation was found between the Absence Phone Call support and the total Panorama Student Survey composite scores. Implications for practice include insight into understanding which supports provided to students on their pathways to graduation are most beneficial.
Recommended Citation
Giese, Heather, "HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF SCHOOL SUPPORTS TOWARD GRADUATION: A CORRELATIONAL STUDY" (2024). Dissertations, Theses, and Projects. 926.
https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/926