Understanding School Effectiveness: An Integrated Model of Academic and Socioemotional Outcomes

• In Event: School Improvement, Achievement, and Equity

Abstract

In this study, we propose a model of school effectiveness that integrates socio-emotional and academic outcomes. Socio-emotional outcomes were assessed through two waves of survey data obtained from 32,275 students in 277 Australian catholic schools. Data on academic achievement was obtained through a standardized national academic achievement test, and data on the home background factors of students were obtained from the participating schools. Confirmatory factor analyses provided strong support for the hypothesized model of school effectiveness. Structural equation analyses showed that home background factors was a strong predictor of academic achievement, but had relatively little influence on socio-emotional outcomes. These results demonstrate the importance of including both academic achievement and socio-emotional outcomes in a model of school effectiveness.

Authors

• Alexandra Sutherland, Insight SRC

• Peter Hart, Deakin University

• Mary Oski

• James Tan