Degree Name

EdD (Doctor of Education)

Program

Educational Leadership

Date of Award

5-2011

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Catherine H. Glascock

Committee Members

Cecil N. Blankenship, Donald W. Good, Pamela H. Scott

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement of students who participated in a freshman academy program to the achievement of those who participated in the traditional high school curriculum. The researcher used grade point average and composite ACT score as determinants of achievement. The population consisted of the graduating classes of 2009 and 2010 at one East Tennessee high school. Independent sample t tests evaluated the relationship between achievement and type of freshman experience. The independent variables were participation in the freshman academy, being male, being female, and race. The dependent variables were grade point average and ACT composite score. The researcher made comparisons between all students, female students, male students, African American students, and white students in both programs.

The quantitative findings revealed that males who participated in the freshmen academy achieved at a significantly higher rate than males who did not. In addition, the findings indicated white students who participated in the academy performed at a significantly higher rate than African American students who participated in the academy. There were no significant differences in the achievement of the entire population of each class, female students, white students, or African American students.

Document Type

Dissertation - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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