| The purpose of this study was to determine if the academic achievement of urban high school students as measured by the American College Test (ACT) was improved when students took or planned to take a set of recommended core academic courses. The recommended core course included four years of English, and three years of mathematics, science and social studies respectively. The number of students in the urban study group and a non-urban comparison group who took or planned to take recommended core courses were determined. The relationship of nine variables with taking or planning to take the recommended core courses and the relationship between taking or planning to take the recommended core courses with academic achievement were determined.; Descriptive statistics, t-tests, stepwise multiple linear regression equations, one-way analyses of variance, and pearson coefficient correlation procedures were used. The study group included 54,966 urban students from 36 school districts in 18 states. The 36 school districts were among the 100 largest school districts in the United States and had a minority enrollment of at least 30%. A comparison group of 9,000 non-urban students was randomly selected from different school districts in the same 18 states.; Generally, the more courses taken in each subject area, the higher were the ACT composite and corresponding subtest scores. Only slightly more than one-half of all students were found to have taken or planned to take the recommended core courses. Urban students were found to have done so in significantly lower relative numbers than were non-urban students. The researcher was not able to identify strong predictors of whether students took or planned to take the recommended core courses. Fewer than one-half of urban students indicated they were satisfied with either programs in career education and planning or guidance provided by the guidance office.; It was concluded that the course selection of students was haphazard, and that the education system has failed the students who did not take the core courses. As a result, the researcher recommended that the core courses be required for all students. |
