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Dissertation
The Impact of School Culture on Student Achievement
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2012
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to contribute to the understanding about specific school culture components relating to effective school criteria (ESC) in order to improve student achievement in Florida. The unit of analysis was at the school level, and the sample included 4 elementary and 4 middle schools from small rural school districts in the Florida Panhandle. The study investigated the presence of ESC and the assigned school grade that implies effectiveness. The Quality School Assessment Instrument (QSAI) survey measured the presence of the ESC. To investigate the relationship, the QSAI score was compared to the school accountability score that equates to the school grade. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient of 0.93, p = 0.001 indicates a statistically significant positive correlation. This study also investigated the organizational structures of schools related to ESC measured with the School Culture Survey (SCS). Data to support the notion of the interdependency of the ESC and the way in which the school is organized to support the criteria are key concepts in utilizing the ESC for school improvement. The QSAI data compared to the SCS data generated a significant positive correlation as evidenced by the Pearson r of 0.94, p = 0.0006. A third analysis compared the QSAI data of the 4 schools deemed high performing to the 4 low performing schools in the sample utilizing a t test. The results indicate a statistically significant difference in the mean QSAI scores of the 2 groups: t(398) = 28.27, p < .0001. This study demonstrated a strong correlation between the ESC and school grades in Florida. The strong correlation between the presence of the ESC and the organizational structures to support these criteria demonstrates the interdependency of the 2 constructs. School leaders should use this information with a systems thinking perspective to impact student achievement.
Details
- Title
- The Impact of School Culture on Student Achievement
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Contributors
- Joyce C. Nichols (Committee Member)Patricia J Wentz (Committee Member) - University of West Florida, School of EducationSherri Zimmerman (Committee Member) - University of West Florida, School of EducationMelanie D. Pelton (Committee Chair)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 179
- Copyright
- © 2012 Kathy Dekle Nobles
- Identifiers
- 99380090843806600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida