Understanding African American High School Students’ Attendance Patterns

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: #GettingtoandthruCollege: Examining Black Students' Graduation Rates (Table 28)

Abstract

The goal of the study was to gain insight into a subgroup of African American high school students who were partially absent from school. A quantitative approach was used to describe the distinguishing characteristics of African American high school students who were severely partially absent by comparing them to African American high school students who were chronically absent. Pre-existing data from a large urban district’s School Experience Survey (items related to school belonging), attendance records, and grade reports were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to better describe and distinguish these students. Notably, the results indicate that partial absences had a larger and more significant effect on these students academic achievement and connectedness to their school.

Author

• Zachary Cue, California Science Project