Date of Award
Spring 3-6-2019
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership for Learning Dissertations
Department
Educational Leadership
Committee Chair
Buckman, David
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Jimenez, Albert
Second Committee Member
Johnson, Arvin
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to contribute to the body of literature regarding decisions school leaders make when developing strategic plans to improve student outcomes. This study investigated whether there is a significant relationship between the school’s climate and graduation rates for public high schools in the state of Georgia when controlling for potential covariates. Like most states, Georgia legislatures have increasingly placed more responsibilities on schools to graduate students on time. For this study, "on time” refers to students who graduate within a four-year cohort, beginning when students enter the ninth grade. Research over the last decade suggests attention should be given to alternative aspects of the school experience, including the quality of instruction, interpersonal relationships, school safety, and structural features within the school building that may increase positive student outcomes (Ali & Siddiqui, 2016; Eller & Eller, 2009; La Salle, 2013; Wang & Degol, 2016).