African American Males and Academic Achievement: Understanding the Challenges of Transitioning From High School to Higher Education

<p>Abstract</p> <p>With all the challenges that Chicago Public School students are facing today, there</p> <p>are none greater than those faced by African American males. On all levels,</p> <p>African American males have fallen short of achieving academically starting from</p> <p>kindergarten and continuing through college enrollment and completion. The study</p> <p>explores African American males and the challenges they face making the</p> <p>transition from high school to higher education. The study used quantitative survey</p> <p>(s) and an African American history assessment with 42 African American high</p> <p>school males’ age 14 to 17 years old, from communities in Chicago Illinois that</p> <p>include Englewood,<em> Auburn Gresham, Roseland, and Bronzeville</em>. The survey and</p> <p>test assessed their views on (3) themes including African American History, self-</p> <p>esteem, and college choice. A sample of 12 teachers, administrators, and mentors</p> <p>shared their past academic and high school experiences, and experiences working</p> <p>with African American males, and the challenges that lie ahead for their future.</p> <p>Solutions to increasing African American college enrollment are discussed. The</p> <p>results of the study revealed that although there is no relationship between self-</p> <p>esteem and academic achievement, findings on the relationship between African</p> <p>American history and academic achievement were revealed. In addition, factors on</p> <p>the importance of African American males’ college choice, revealed that all four</p> <p>factors academic, social, personal, and financial were evenly important to the</p> <p>participants in the study. All participants’ from the qualitative sample, and the</p> <p>quantitative sample, shared similar patterns in the college choice process, stating</p> <p>the importance of parents, teachers, school administrators, and counselors’</p> <p>support when making college choice decisions.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - NLU Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Jackson, Shenika

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Raymond Legler, PhD
• Dr. Tiffeny Jimenez, PhD
• Dr. Bradley Olson, PhD

• African American Males
• Academic Acheivement
• High School
• Higher Education
• Chicago Public Schools
• Community Psychology
• Education
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/315

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.nl.edu:diss-1328