Relating Building and Classroom Conditions to Student Achievement in Virginia's Elementary Schools

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Date
1999-04-13Author
Lanham, James Warren III
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The relationships between student achievement and a number of variables relating to
building and classroom conditions in Virginia elementary schools were examined. A
systematic random sample of 300 schools was selected from all elementary schools in
Virginia with grades three and five. Data on building condition, classroom condition, and
demographics were collected with "An Assessment of Building and Classroom Conditions
in Elementary Schools in Virginia." Building principals completed the survey. The scaled
scores from the Spring 1998 Standards of Learning Assessments for third-grade English,
fifth-grade English, third-grade mathematics, and fifth-grade mathematics were used as
measures of student achievement. The percentage passing the fifth-grade technology
assessment was used as a measure of achievement in technology as scaled scores were not
available.
Findings
A large portion of Virginia elementary schools are more than thirty years old and
have a number of structural and classroom defects. While principals gave high composite
ratings to their schools, their responses to individual questions indicate problems with roof
leaks and climate control.
The percentage of students participating in the free and reduced-price lunch program
accounted for the largest percentages of variance in English, math, and technology
achievement. However, this variable had greater influence on achievement in English and
technology than in mathematics. Air conditioning was a significant variable in third-grade
English, fifth-grade mathematics, and fifth-grade technology achievement. Other variables
found significant in one or more of the analyses were ceiling type, frequency of floor
sweeping, frequency of floor mopping, connection to a wide-area network, room structure,
overall building maintenance, and flooring type.
Collections
- Doctoral Dissertations [14916]