The role of school principals in dropout prevention high schools is critical to enhancing federal cohort graduation rates. This study examined how principals in one dropout prevention high school organization influenced graduation rates. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the perceptions of stakeholders (including principals) on the relationship between principal influence in dropout prevention school success, as measured by federal cohort graduation rates, and to identify the strategies the principals used. Overarching research questions were developed to determine stakeholders' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of principals and their impact on the success of dropout prevention high schools. This utilization-focused program evaluation used a mixed-methods research approach. Data was collected using surveys, interviews, and extant data. Findings revealed that the perception of the majority of participants was that principal leadership styles and data utilization were of primary importance to enhancing federal cohort graduation rates in the dropout prevention high school organization under study. To further enhance graduation rates, it was recommended for principals to form a leadership team, align a culture plan and individual development plans with school improvement plans.
","abstract_html":"<p>The role of school principals in dropout prevention high schools is critical to enhancing federal cohort graduation rates. This study examined how principals in one dropout prevention high school organization influenced graduation rates. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the perceptions of stakeholders (including principals) on the relationship between principal influence in dropout prevention school success, as measured by federal cohort graduation rates, and to identify the strategies the principals used. Overarching research questions were developed to determine stakeholders' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of principals and their impact on the success of dropout prevention high schools. This utilization-focused program evaluation used a mixed-methods research approach. Data was collected using surveys, interviews, and extant data. Findings revealed that the perception of the majority of participants was that principal leadership styles and data utilization were of primary importance to enhancing federal cohort graduation rates in the dropout prevention high school organization under study. To further enhance graduation rates, it was recommended for principals to form a leadership team, align a culture plan and individual development plans with school improvement plans.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Maldonado, Rachel"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ed.D. Doctor of Education","degree_level":"Dissertation - Public Access","degree_discipline":"Educational Leadership","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Lorrie Butler","Dr. Carla Sparks"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2025-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:21:46Z","subjects":["principal","dropout prevention","high school","graduation rates","perceptions","leadership styles","Educational Administration and Supervision","Educational Leadership","Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration","Other Educational Administration and Supervision","Secondary Education","Urban Education"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/961","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Lorrie Butler","Dr. Carla Sparks"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Maldonado, Rachel"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-03-13T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Educational Leadership"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation - Public Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ed.D. Doctor of Education"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["principal","dropout prevention","high school","graduation rates","perceptions","leadership styles","Educational Administration and Supervision","Educational Leadership","Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration","Other Educational Administration and Supervision","Secondary Education","Urban Education"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/961"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The role of school principals in dropout prevention high schools is critical to enhancing federal cohort graduation rates. This study examined how principals in one dropout prevention high school organization influenced graduation rates. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the perceptions of stakeholders (including principals) on the relationship between principal influence in dropout prevention school success, as measured by federal cohort graduation rates, and to identify the strategies the principals used. Overarching research questions were developed to determine stakeholders' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of principals and their impact on the success of dropout prevention high schools. This utilization-focused program evaluation used a mixed-methods research approach. Data was collected using surveys, interviews, and extant data. Findings revealed that the perception of the majority of participants was that principal leadership styles and data utilization were of primary importance to enhancing federal cohort graduation rates in the dropout prevention high school organization under study. To further enhance graduation rates, it was recommended for principals to form a leadership team, align a culture plan and individual development plans with school improvement plans.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Program Evaluation of the Effects of Principals on the Success of Charter School Dropout Prevention High Schools"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Lorrie Butler","Dr. Carla Sparks"],"dc:creator":["Maldonado, Rachel"],"dc:date.available":["2026-03-13T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The role of school principals in dropout prevention high schools is critical to enhancing federal cohort graduation rates. This study examined how principals in one dropout prevention high school organization influenced graduation rates. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the perceptions of stakeholders (including principals) on the relationship between principal influence in dropout prevention school success, as measured by federal cohort graduation rates, and to identify the strategies the principals used. Overarching research questions were developed to determine stakeholders' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of principals and their impact on the success of dropout prevention high schools. This utilization-focused program evaluation used a mixed-methods research approach. Data was collected using surveys, interviews, and extant data. Findings revealed that the perception of the majority of participants was that principal leadership styles and data utilization were of primary importance to enhancing federal cohort graduation rates in the dropout prevention high school organization under study. To further enhance graduation rates, it was recommended for principals to form a leadership team, align a culture plan and individual development plans with school improvement plans.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/961"],"dc:subject":["principal","dropout prevention","high school","graduation rates","perceptions","leadership styles","Educational Administration and Supervision","Educational Leadership","Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration","Other Educational Administration and Supervision","Secondary Education","Urban Education"],"dc:title":["Program Evaluation of the Effects of Principals on the Success of Charter School Dropout Prevention High Schools"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Educational Leadership"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation - Public Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ed.D. Doctor of Education"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:21:46Z"}