Effects of socioeconomic status on academic performance in Missouri public school

Understanding the effects of socioeconomic status on academic performance is important in determining effective and valid testing for all Missouri students. Determining the correlation between these two variables is important for all educators to understand, so that all students can achieve to their academic potential. Finding the correlation between academic performance and socioeconomic status can assist educators in determining instructional strategies that best fit each individual student. In this study the researcher analyzed the effects of socioeconomic status on the academic performance by retrieving data on the state mandated Missouri Assessment Program. The researcher analyzed fifty school districts on the communication arts portion of the MAP test. This data was used in determining the academic performance of these students. The percent of free and reduced lunch students in these districts was used in determining their socioeconomic status. The correlation between the two variables was determined by using the Pearson r Correlation Formula.