An examination of the relation between self-perceived leadership practices of high school principals and student achievement

The current study explored the relation between the self-perceived leadership practices of Portland Metro area high school principals ( N = 28) and the achievement levels of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White high school students on the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) high school math test. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) self-report was used to measure frequency of leadership practices. Differential performance across categories of race and ethnicity were analyzed and compared against high school principal self-reported scores on the LPI. This study expanded on existing research by connecting principal leadership practices to student achievement by subgroup with a focus on achievement of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White students at the secondary level. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were computed to assess the relation between the self-reported leadership practices of high school principals and student proficiency category percentages. Multiple regressions were used to determine the relative predictive nature of the practices of an exemplary leader in relation to the percentage of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White students who exceeded, met, or did not meet standards on the 2010-2011 OAKS high school math test. School demographic factors of percentage of students of color, percentage of students receiving free or reduced price lunch (FRPL), and percentage of students enrolled in English Language Learner (ELL) programs were also analyzed to determine if these contextual factors had an impact on leadership practices. Results support no predictive nature of student achievement on principal self-assessment of leadership practices nor do they support a relation between school demographic factors and principal leadership.