| The study focused on an examination of the relationships between characteristics of students and schools and student achievement in mathematics. Multiple variables representing student and school traits were collected from the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS). A random sample (n=204) of middle schools from a southwestern state was used to investigate the research questions.; The data detected statistically significant (p < 0.05) relationships between both student variables and school indicators and mathematics achievement when instructional expenditures were controlled. Specifically, major student demographics associated with higher levels of mathematics achievement included lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students, lower percentage of at-risk students, and higher rates of academic retention. Specific school indicators affiliated with higher levels of achievement (p < 0.05) included smaller district size (enrollment), lower percentage of campus administrators, lower per-pupil expenditures for instructional leadership, lower per-pupil expenditures for school leadership, and lower per-pupil expenditures for support services.; Relational tendencies (p < 0.05) between student and school traits indicated that as the percentage of white students increase, there is a tendency for district enrollment, class size, instructional expenditures, support expenditures, and campus enrollment to all decrease in magnitude. Further, districts with larger enrollment tend to have a lower percentage of white students, larger percentage of English limited students, and higher academic retention rates. Finally, higher academic retention rates tend to be in districts with larger enrollments, campuses with larger enrollment, larger class size, and larger teacher-to-pupil ratios.; Overall, student traits related to achievement as predicted. Conversely, the negative associations between achievement and school spending on leadership functions and on special services were counter to expectations and warrant further investigations. |
