Analysis for Determining Factors That Place Elementary Students at Risk

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Abstract
A checklist survey was completed by all the elementary schoolteachers in an urban school district in Iowa for a total of 5,270 students in Grades 1 through 5. The purpose of the survey was to determine a profile of the most significant factors that caused elementary school students to be at risk. The instrument was developed by a panel of experts within the school district. A factor analysis of this survey revealed eight interpretable factors accounting for 52% of the variance. These factors included (a) Academically At Risk, (b) Behavior and Coping Skills, (c) Socially Withdrawn, (d) Family Income, (e) Parenting, (f) Language Development, (g) Retention, and (h) Attendance. Results indicated that Factor 1, Academically at Risk, and Factor 2, Behavior and Coping Skills, accounted for over half of the variance. The overall “hit rate” for both at-risk and not-at-risk students was 90.71%, using the 8-factor solution. The profile provides educators with a pattern of the significant at-risk factors that can facilitate the process of identifying potential dropouts as early as the elementary school level. By developing a better understanding of these factors, educators can become better equipped to develop policies, to design support systems, and to develop prevention programs that positively address the factors significantly affecting at-risk elementary students. Early identification can thus assist educators to increase the number of students who ultimately graduate.

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