A Comparison Prior to and After Implementation of a Ninth Grade Academy in East Tennessee High Schools

The purpose of this study was to identify student progress during the 9th grade year by evaluating student data prior to and after the implementation of a 9th grade academy in 2 east Tennessee high schools. The testing variables included the number of core credits earned, the number of elective credits earned, number of absences, and grade point average. Grouping variables included all 9th grade students and 9th grade students by gender prior to and after implementation of the 9th grade academy. Data were collected over 5 years (2005--2010). Paired-samples t-tests were used to make comparisons prior to and after the implementation of the 9th grade academy for each variable for the high schools. Independent-samples t-tests were used to make additional comparisons between gender on each variable prior to and after implementation of the 9th grade academy. An additional analysis was conducted to determine how many 9th grade students were enrolled in basic math or Algebra I prior to and after the implementation of the 9th grade academy. Based on the findings of this study, more core and elective credits were earned after the implementation of the 9th grade academy, but there was very little difference in GPA. Number of absences improved in 1 school after the implementation of the 9th grade academy and not in the other school. Additionally, there was little positive impact in Algebra I credits earned after the implementation of the 9th grade academy.