The Effect of High School Tracking on Students' Performance in Art and Humanity Majors: A Longitudinal Study

• In Event: Pathways to Success: Charter School Structures, Curricula, and Student Outcomes

Abstract

High school students in Saudi Arabia must choose their study track by the eleventh grade. They can pick from three tracks: science, art, and business. Science colleges only accept students from the science track, while art and humanity colleges accept students from all tracks. This study compared the performance of art and science high school tracks graduates in art and humanity studies at two universities. The results showed significant differences in their overall performance. The study recommended that policymakers be careful when expanding high school study tracks and suggested that a focus on high-quality preparation in high school might be more economically beneficial than dividing efforts across different tracks. Further research in this area is needed.

Author

• Nasser Alresaini, Education and Training Evaluation Commission