THE EFFECT OF JET AIRCRAFT NOISE ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTITUDE TOWARD CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

This study concerns the effect of jet aircraft noise on student achievement and toward classroom environment in the Highline School District, Number 401, located in Seattle, Washington. Data for the study were collected in the Highline School District using student achievement test scores from the regular testing program in grades two, four, six, nine, and eleven and a questionnaire professionally designed to assess student attitudes toward their classroom environment. The data were collected between September, 1978 and May, 1979. The study has four major null hypotheses: (1) there will be no difference in academic achievement between students in noisy schools and students in quiet schools; (2) student achievement in demographically matched noisy and quiet schools will show no difference; (3) there will be no differences in student attitude concerning their classroom environment in selected noisy and quiet schools; and (4) student attitude toward classroom environment will not affect student achievement. Three of the four hypotheses were rejected to varying degrees and levels of significance. The study indicates that student achievement, as measured by the California Test of Basic Skills and the California Achievement Tests, is higher in quiet schools than in noisy schools in grades two, four, six, and eleven. Upon more finely tuning the sample by demographically matching quiet and noisy schools, students who attended quite schools had higher achievement test scores at all grade levels. In assessing student attitude toward their classroom environment, the small group sampled in grades six, nine, and eleven found their classroom environment less favorable in noisy schools than in quiet schools. The implication can be drawn that student attitudes toward classroom environment can affect achievement test scores. It is concluded from this study that jet aircraft noise has an effect on student achievement and attitude toward classroom environment, and that consideration of noise should be taken in the planning of new schools and the remodeling and replacement of equipment in older school facilities.