Dependent Variables (x): College Readiness and Grade Level Performance (Academic Achievement Indicators)
Independent Variables (y): Percentage of Economically Disadvantaged Students, Parental Education levels (Socioeconomic Factors)
Null Hypothesis: There is no significant relationship between socioeconomic factors and academic achievement indicators in Bexar County schools compared to surrounding counties in Texas.
Alternative Hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between socioeconomic factors and academic achievement indicators in Bexar County schools compared to surrounding Texas counties.Specifically: a) Schools with higher percentages of economically disadvantaged students have lower college readiness and grade-level performance rates. b) Schools with lower parental education levels have lower college readiness and grade-level performance rates.
Hypothesis Synopsis: The purpose of this study is to establish how the socio-economic factors and school performance in Bexar County, Texas, compared to other counties in Texas. The research question hopes to explain whether students from lower socioeconomic communities have lower academic achievement than students from more advantaged communities and how different countries support their lower socioeconomic student population to assess Bexar County resource availability and inform policies in Bexar County.
The socioeconomic factors are the percentage of economically disadvantaged students and parental education levels. These factors provide insight into the economic challenges and educational background of families in each school community. College readiness rates and grade-level performance rates measure academic achievement. These indicators show how well students are prepared for higher education and how they’re performing at their current grade level.
This study hypothesizes that schools with higher percentages of economically disadvantaged students and lower parental education levels will have lower college readiness and grade-level performance rates. This is based on research suggesting that socioeconomic factors can significantly impact educational outcomes. The data will then be compared to surrounding counties in Texas to see how Bexar County’s economically disadvantaged students compare to those in the surrounding counties. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds may face challenges like limited access to resources, less academic support at home, and higher stress levels, which could affect their academic performance.
By comparing Bexar County to surrounding counties, the study hopes to identify whether these patterns are unique to Bexar County or part of a broader regional trend. If the research supports the alternative hypothesis, then it could suggest a need for targeted interventions in schools with higher socioeconomic challenges. This might include additional funding, implementation of community family programs, programs to boost college readiness, or initiatives to increase parental involvement.