Examining the Effect of Poverty, Rurality, and Their Interaction on Mathematics State Test Scores

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Abstract

This paper examines the effect of poverty, rurality and their interaction on mathematics state test scores. General and hierarchical linear modeling are used to identify significant demographic predictors of mathematics state test scores. Variables that measure poverty, rurality, minority population levels, socioeconomic status, and student to teacher ratio are all found significant; however they do not explain all of the variability in math scores. Cluster analysis and principal components analysis are used to identify and display groupings of schools with respect to test scores and demographic variables.

Author

• Antonio Moretti, Pearson