How African American Students' Perception of Culturally Relevant School Climate Impacts Their Academic Performance

• In Event: 21.055 - Dimensions of Supportive and Enabling Educational Environments for African American Children

Abstract

In America, there persists a gap in academic performance between African-American students and their European-American and Asian-American counterparts. This gap in academic performance has implications for post-secondary education and income attainment over time. Therefore, it is imperative for these African-American students that this gap is closed. This study investigates how African-American middle school students’ socio-emotional and cultural experiences in school impacts their academic performance. Specifically, this study investigates students’ perceptions of relational mattering, belonging, and culturally-relevant school climate. Results indicate 1) a clear, positive, relationship between the three socio-emotional and cultural variables: Culturally-Relevant School Climate (CRSC), sense of belonging, and perception of relational mattering and 2) that CRSC significantly predicts students’ grades.

Author

• Brielle Nelise Brookins, Howard University