School Funding and Graduation Rates of Hispanic Students: A Mixed-Methods Study

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Abstract

A purposeful sample of 147 Texas school districts identified as having a student Hispanic population greater than 75% participated in this mixed methods study examining the relationship between school funding and graduation rates. District superintendents were also interviewed to provide a better understanding of the impact school funding had on their district’s Hispanic graduation rates. Results concluded a correlation between school funding and graduation rates in small school districts and for districts reporting up to a 50% LEP student population, and school funding invested on dropout prevention programs and graduation rates. Superintendents differed in their perceptions of what they contributed to their graduation rates, on the role of school funding, and on where they would invest any additional school funding.

Authors

• Michelle L. Peters, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• Antonio Corrales, La Marque Independent School District