Survival Analysis of Student Mobility and Attrition in a Florida District's Charter Schools

• In Event: Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: Research Methods and Approaches to Examining Academic and Behavioral Outcomes

Abstract

Student mobility and attrition have been ongoing issues in the public education system, and as such necessitate additional exploration in schools of choice such as charter schools. This study focused on whether some subgroups of students, based on demographics and state exam achievement levels, have a higher hazard of premature withdrawal from charter schools in a large school district in central Florida. Survival analyses were conducted using nonparametric LIFETEST procedure in SAS to compute Kaplan-Meier (1958) curve of different subgroups, and parametric Cox proportional hazard test. The results indicated that lower achievers (FCAT Reading scores of levels 1 and 2), black students, and students receiving free or reduced lunch had statistically significantly higher hazards of leaving charter school prematurely.

Authors

• Chunhua Cao, Polk County School District

• Heather Peltier Wright, Polk County School District

• Brandon Craig, Polk County School District