This study examined the influence of career preparation courses on student
achievement at MacArthur High School, San Antonio, Texas. MacArthur is the only
high school in the district to use the 6.5 scaled registrarâÂÂs grade point average (RPA)
system, as opposed to the standard 4.0 scaled grade point average. Final computations
were converted to the standard 4.0 scale for uniformity. The intent of the study was to
determine if there was a relationship between enrollment in career preparation courses
and grade point averages, absenteeism, and dropout rates.
Moreover, the study sought to determine the relationship between students
enrolled in career preparation courses and students not enrolled within these three areas
of investigation. Data were collected from the student records of the population of the
study, which consisted of 532 students, and was used in conjunction with descriptive
and co-relational statistics, including ANOVAS and Scheffes. The results of this study
support that career preparation students in the study possessed a higher grade point
average. Additionally, this study supported the literature review regarding career preparation student absenteeism and dropout rates. The career preparation students
spend more time at school, which enhances their propensity for learning.
The study also compared career preparation students to students not enrolled in
career preparation courses by grade point average at MacArthur High School. The
results of this portion of the study showed that the non-career preparation students, the
health occupation students, as well as the trade and industry students, all possess a
higher grade point average than do the business and marketing students. This is
attributable for the most part to skill sets needed for scientific definitions, higher math
skills, and enhanced scientific knowledge. Further study should be done to ascertain the
extent of individual factors in determining success in other district high schools.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/4989 |
| Date | 25 April 2007 |
| Creators | Todd, James Walker |
| Contributors | Stark, Stephen |
| Publisher | Texas A&M University |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Record of Study, text |
| Format | 241874 bytes, electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
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