| The primary purpose of this study was to examine school environment factors affecting the decision of at-risk students to enroll in an alternative high school. A secondary purpose was to examine the differences in responses found in the student demographics and the rural or urban location of the students. To do this, the researcher designed a survey based on research-cited factors pertaining to the elements of effective alternative high schools, the reasons at-risk students drop out of high school, and positive factors about alternative schools identified by at-risk students. The research participants included 124 ninth through twelfth grade students enrolled in alternative schools in eastern South Dakota.;The study found many positive student perceptions of alternative schools. Students reported the alternative schools as willing to change class schedules to accommodate home and/or work obligations and the students viewed the alternative school staff and faculty as friendly. The rural students, however, reported a stronger connection to the staff, faculty and peers in both the mainstream school and the alternative school than the urban students reported. As the students progressed through the grade levels and grew older, they felt more respected by the teachers, the staff, and their peers.;Students in mainstream schools identified more negative perceptions of the school experience including witnessing fights and being aware that other students were using alcohol and drugs. Male students perceived the mainstream experience as more positive than female students. Although multiple differences were reported in the mainstream schools, there tended to be fewer gender differences in the alternative schools. Students also reported they felt less connected to the mainstream school as they progressed through the grade levels. There were some ethnic differences in perceptions of the mainstream and alternative schools.;The primary recommendations of the study are to encourage more awareness of the perceptions of at-risk students by the mainstream schools and to encourage the continued support of the students at the alternative schools. |
