Effects of a Freshman Academy Within a Rural High School

Effects of a Freshman Academy Within a Rural High School PDF Author: Ronnie L. Mincey
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Book Description
This dissertation examined student academic achievement, attendance, and disciplinary data for a rural high school in upper East Tennessee for academic school years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. The purpose was to determine the changes in student academic achievement, attendance, and discipline attributed to the establishment by district and school administration of a freshman academy within the focus school during 2010-2011. This quantitative, causal-comparative, ex post facto study utilized a posttest only, control group design to compare two consecutive freshman classes with similar demographics enrolled at the subject school. The 2010 class served as the control cohort who did not participate in the freshman academy. The 2011 class, the inaugural class of the focus school freshman academy, was the experimental treatment cohort. Study results found no significant differences in student academic achievement as measured by state mandated, standardized End-of-Course tests for English I and Algebra I. There were statistically significant increases in attendance for the treatment cohort whole group and male subgroup. There were also statistically significant increases in the number of discipline infractions for the treatment cohort whole group and the male, female, and economically disadvantaged subgroups.

Effects of a Freshman Academy Within a Rural High School

Effects of a Freshman Academy Within a Rural High School PDF Author: Ronnie L. Mincey
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Book Description
This dissertation examined student academic achievement, attendance, and disciplinary data for a rural high school in upper East Tennessee for academic school years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. The purpose was to determine the changes in student academic achievement, attendance, and discipline attributed to the establishment by district and school administration of a freshman academy within the focus school during 2010-2011. This quantitative, causal-comparative, ex post facto study utilized a posttest only, control group design to compare two consecutive freshman classes with similar demographics enrolled at the subject school. The 2010 class served as the control cohort who did not participate in the freshman academy. The 2011 class, the inaugural class of the focus school freshman academy, was the experimental treatment cohort. Study results found no significant differences in student academic achievement as measured by state mandated, standardized End-of-Course tests for English I and Algebra I. There were statistically significant increases in attendance for the treatment cohort whole group and male subgroup. There were also statistically significant increases in the number of discipline infractions for the treatment cohort whole group and the male, female, and economically disadvantaged subgroups.

The Impact of a Freshman Academy on High School Transition

The Impact of a Freshman Academy on High School Transition PDF Author: Sherry Grier Veasey
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Academic achievement
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
This dissertation was designed to identify and describe the impact a freshman academy has on high school transition for ninth-grade students at a rural high school in western North Carolina. This case study investigated the problems ninth graders encounter as they transition from middle school to high school. The study examined student achievement, student attendance, and the graduation rate in an effort to determine whether a freshman academy at the high school helped students transition successfully. -- The transition to high school may be difficult for some students because of the countless changes they are experiencing as adolescents. The high school in this study was located in a rural western town in North Carolina and identified the ninth-grade class as the class with the most struggling students. In an effort to help students transition successfully to high school, a freshman academy was implemented. -- This qualitative study consisted of interviews with the principal, assistant principal, guidance counselor, and teachers in the freshman academy. Additional data was collected from high school principals in the district with freshman academies to determine strategies implemented for freshman academies in the school district. Focus group interviews were conducted with teachers in the academy. A central office person was also interviewed. A survey was conducted with teachers to ascertain their perceptions of the freshman academy since the implementation. -- Interview data was collected, transcribed, analyzed, and reported in a narrative format according to themes and research questions. Survey data was collected, analyzed, and reported in a frequency table. Data from interviews, archival data, and the survey were triangulated to validate the findings for the study. -- An analysis of the data revealed the freshman academy at the high school did not impact student achievement, student attendance, or the graduation rate. The data did reveal there was an impact on student motivation, students' attitudes toward school, and the school culture. Students participated in the learning process by interacting with their peers. Teachers used various instructional strategies including technology to help motivate students. Students enjoyed positive relationships with their teachers. School-wide expectations and teacher collaboration contributed to the culture of the school.

Exploring a Rural School District's Freshman Academy Program Through Parent and Staff Member Perspectives

Exploring a Rural School District's Freshman Academy Program Through Parent and Staff Member Perspectives PDF Author: Dustin G. Morehead
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : High school dropouts
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Impact of Two Freshman Academy Models on Student Engagement and Achievement in Rural East Tennessee Schools

Impact of Two Freshman Academy Models on Student Engagement and Achievement in Rural East Tennessee Schools PDF Author: Nancy P. Rothery
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 103

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Book Description
The transition from a public middle school to a public high school represents a pivotal point in the educational trajectory of a student. To combat freshman transition challenges, school district administrators created Freshman Academy models. This study examines the impact of two Freshman Academy models, isolated and school-within-a-school, on student achievement and engagement in a rural East Tennessee school district. The researcher examined 2013-2018 English I and Biology I end of course Tennessee Value Added Assessment System assessments and former 2018-2019 Freshman Academy student survey responses of the Student Engagement Instrument survey on peer student support and teacher student relationships. The researcher found that no statistical difference existed between the two Freshman Academy models on student achievement and engagement.

Administrators', Counselors', and Teachers' Opinions Regarding the Impact of Freshman Academies, Schools Within Schools, and Ninth Grade Schools, as it Relates to Effective Transitioning

Administrators', Counselors', and Teachers' Opinions Regarding the Impact of Freshman Academies, Schools Within Schools, and Ninth Grade Schools, as it Relates to Effective Transitioning PDF Author: Robyn Suzanne Killebrew
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ninth grade (Education)
Languages : en
Pages : 133

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Book Description
The purpose of this study was to determine whether administrators, counselors, and teachers believe that implementing freshman academies, schools-within-schools, and ninth grade schools is an effective way to transition ninth graders into high school. This study included an introduction and a review of literature that discussed the following: adolescent years, transition from 8th to 9th grade, drop-out prevention, school reform in secondary education, professional learning communities, the freshman academy, and a conclusion. This study was also comprised with a methodology section, research results, conclusions, recommendations for policy makers and practitioners, and recommendations for future research. The questionnaire for this study was developed by the researcher. The questionnaire focused on the areas of demographics, academics, attendance, discipline, school culture, transitioning, socio-economic status, and instructional staff. Data was collected from seven different schools in Mississippi who currently house freshman academies, school-within-schools, and ninth grade schools. A total of 85 questionnaires were completed with 10 of those being administrators, 12 being counselors, and 63 comprised of teachers. This study specifically examined administrators', counselors', and teachers' opinions regarding the impact freshman academies, schools-within-schools, and ninth grade schools as it relates to effective transitioning. Results illustrated that there was a significant difference in the opinions of administrators, counselors, and teachers in the areas of academic performance, reduced discipline referrals, school culture, transitioning from eighth to ninth grade, and the morale on the staff of the school. However, this study yielded a non-significant relationship among the opinions of administrators, counselors, and teachers concerning the implementation of a freshmen academy on the drop-out rate and improving students from a low socio-economic class. Policymakers and practitioners were encouraged to look at freshman data, collaborate with middle school and high school teachers, and place their best teachers in the ninth grade to ensure a smooth transition for all freshmen. --Page ii.

Impact of Freshman Academy Experiences on Student Academic Intrinsic Motivation

Impact of Freshman Academy Experiences on Student Academic Intrinsic Motivation PDF Author: Shirley C. Sealy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Academic achievement
Languages : en
Pages : 470

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This dissertation was designed to explore the transition of a group of ninth-grade students into a large rural upstate South Carolina high school. The primary focus was to ascertain the students' levels of academic intrinsic motivation toward English, math, science, history, and their general orientation toward school learning, and to explore those freshman academy experiences that the students felt most directly impacted these attributes. The freshman academy at this school was implemented in 2006 as a district initiative to strengthen the transition to high school and ultimately increase the graduation rate. -- This was a mixed methods case study in which the researcher sought to gain insight into the students' academic intrinsic motivation toward subject areas as well as their general motivational orientation. Data were measured quantitatively by administering the Children's Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (CAIMI) to a group of current ninth graders enrolled in the freshman academy at a South Carolina high school. -- The students' scale scores on the CAIMI measured their levels of motivation across five subscales--English, math, science, history, and general orientation toward school learning. Qualitatively, the researcher conducted three student focus groups, four teacher interviews (one teacher from each of the four subject areas), and an administrator interview with the assistant principal in charge of the freshman academy. Additionally, the researcher conducted a review of the written descriptions of the freshman academy. -- The results from this study led the researcher to conclude that the students, teachers, and administrator perceived the overall impacts of the freshman academy on ninth-grade transition as positive and supportive, thus easing the transitional challenges of its students from middle school to high school. All participant categories perceived the academy's structure and program design to have diminished the possible deleterious effects of the academic, procedural, and social challenges experienced by the students as they transitioned to high school. All participant categories perceived the teachers to be primary motivational sources for their students. Students indicated that, although this impact had been mostly positive for them as learners, in some cases, the teachers' impact had been to decrease their desire to learn. CAIMI subscale scores were low in all four subject areas, as well as toward school learning in general. This indicated a possible disconnect between what the teachers did to motivate their students to learn, and what the students perceived as motivating. The researcher's recommendations were for the school to assess the motivation levels of their incoming freshmen and to use this data to guide them in design and implementation of their instructional programs and schedules. In addition, the school should develop and implement professional development on intrinsic motivation theory and practical implications for the classroom teachers.

The Effects of the Freshman Academy on Ringgold High School

The Effects of the Freshman Academy on Ringgold High School PDF Author: Earl Lamar Brown
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ninth grade (Education)
Languages : en
Pages : 124

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An Investigation of the Freshman Academy as it Relates to Student Success in a Rural School County in South Carolina

An Investigation of the Freshman Academy as it Relates to Student Success in a Rural School County in South Carolina PDF Author: Natalie B. Sarvis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Academic achievement
Languages : en
Pages :

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A Case Study on the Impacts of Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in a Freshman Academy for Secondary Classroom Students

A Case Study on the Impacts of Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in a Freshman Academy for Secondary Classroom Students PDF Author: Anna S. Moose
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ninth grade (Education)
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Book Description
This study researched the impact a Freshman Academy approach has on rigor, relevance, and relationships in a secondary classroom setting. For the purpose of this paper, a Freshman Academy is one where ninth-grade students are grouped together in their core academic courses with a common group of teachers. Within these common academic courses, ideas and concepts are integrated in order to transition more effectively into the high school environment and provide students with a more cohesive academic experience. This paper further reflects the current, critical problems in existence in today's high school setting that can potentially be addressed using the Freshman Academy approach. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how integrating the curriculum, utilizing effective teacher collaboration, and creating a Freshman Academy impact the rigor, relevance, and relationships for both students and teachers during the ninth-grade year.

Selected Impacts of a Freshman Academy on Student Grade Level Transition

Selected Impacts of a Freshman Academy on Student Grade Level Transition PDF Author: Shellaine Lynn Springer Schwatken
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 446

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