A comparative study of the dropout rate in Giles County to surrounding counties
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare Giles County to surrounding counties. Giles County has a large number of students who continue to drop out. Seven research questions were developed to implement this study. The population for the study were dropouts from Giles, Lawrence, Lincoln and Maury counties. Inferential statistics were derived by using the chi-square test for independence, analysis of variance repeated measures design, and the Pearson r correlation. There was a significant increase in the dropout rate of the four counties tested $({\rm X}\sp2=24.10,\ df=3,\ p={<}.05).$ There was no significant difference in the increase of the dropout rate in Giles County compared to surrounding counties $(p={<}.05).$ There was a significant difference in the number of black female dropouts in Giles County compared to surrounding counties $({\rm X}\sp2=12.52,\ df=3,\ p={<}.05).$ There was no significant difference in the number of white female dropouts in Giles County compared to surrounding counties $({\rm X}\sp2=1.001,\ df=3,\ p={<}.05).$ There was no significant difference in the number of black male dropouts in Giles County compared to surrounding counties $({\rm X}\sp2=6.357,\ df=3,\ p={<}.05).$ There was a significant difference in the number of white male dropouts in Giles County compared to surrounding counties. There was a correlation between student dropouts and retention (.9733) $(p<.05).$ Findings indicated that Giles County's dropout rate is not increasing or decreasing compared to the other counties. Giles County's dropout rate is remaining constant in comparison to the other counties. There is no group dropping out in this county at a higher rate than any other counties compared. Recommendations included replicating the study by the year 2000 to include Marshall County, checking records to see if student dropouts were ever retained, and investigating why black females have the largest dropout rate of all the groups.
Subject Area
School administration|Secondary education
Recommended Citation
Irene Stevenson,
"A comparative study of the dropout rate in Giles County to surrounding counties"
(1996).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI9821873.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI9821873