Academic Achievement and School Culture

Study Notes

School culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that define a school's identity and influence the experiences of its students and staff.
A positive school culture has been linked to various positive outcomes, including improved academic achievement, increased student motivation, and better teacher morale.

The impact of school culture on academic achievement is a complex and multifaceted issue that warrants further exploration.
A supportive school environment can help students feel like they belong and have a sense of community, which increases their motivation and involvement in their education.
A school culture that fosters tolerance and diversity can lessen the effects of structural injustices and provide underrepresented kids more chances to achieve.

School culture has the power to either strengthen or weaken current economic and social gaps, emphasizing its importance for impacting academic achievement.
A bad school culture can be harmful to students' academic performance, creating a toxic atmosphere that deters students from being motivated and involved.

The study aims to investigate the impact of school culture on students' academic achievement, exploring the perspectives of students, teachers, and administrators.
Research questions include:
- How does school culture influence student academic achievement?
- Do teacher-student relationships in schools with a strong culture impact academic achievement?
- Do extracurricular activities in schools with a positive culture contribute to academic achievement?

This study is significant because it can assist educators and decision-makers in coming up with better ways to support students.
The study can contribute to closing the ongoing achievement gaps that occur throughout many educational systems.
The research can provide insight into how to better support disadvantaged or underrepresented student populations.

The study is delimited to secondary level schools in a specific region due to time and financial constraints.
Operational definitions include:
- School environment: the common ideals, attitudes, customs, and behaviors that characterize a school's social and academic climate.
- School culture: the behaviors, relationships, and exchanges between staff, teachers, administrators, and students that influence the overall environment and climate of the school.