Selected economic variables as predictors of student performance in South Carolina public school districts.

摘要

This study was intended to determine if selected economic variables were related to student performance in South Carolina public school districts. Four predictor variables representing selected economic variables were compared with a criterion variable representing student performance, while four covariant factors representing school demographic differences were statistically held constant to reduce their possible effects. The four selected economic variables were per-pupil state funding, per-pupil expenditure, per-pupil school district wealth, and per-pupil local revenue, all measured by dollar amounts. The criterion variable was the PACT exit examination, measured by percent for each district. The four covariant factors were socioeconomic status, student race, student/teacher ratios, and percentage of teachers with advanced degrees. With the exception of student/teacher ratios, the covariant factors were measured by a percentage for each school district. Participants in the study were the 85 public school districts in South Carolina. The most recently available data were obtained from the South Carolina Department of Education through the Annual School District Report Card System for South Carolina Public Schools and School Districts for 2001--2002, South Carolina Education Profiles for 2001--2002 , and IN