Assessing earth and environmental science enrollment trends in Texas public high schools

Scope and Method of Study: This study assesses the status of Earth and environmental sciences education in Texas Public High Schools by analyzing enrollment proportions of 11th and 12th grade students in 607 Independent School Districts (ISD) for the 2010-2011 academic school year using a quantitative, non-experimental alpha research design. This study is most interested in the relationship between enrollment percentages and geographic locations (especially those lying in areas at higher than average risk from natural events) of selected ISD, categorized by their membership in Texas Education Service Center Regions 1-20. Data utilized for this study were retrieved from Texas Education Agency (TEA) public records databases and were examined using the following non-parametric tests: Kruskal- Wallis test, Fligner-Killeen test, Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, Shapiro-Wilk Normality test, and Fisher's F-test.;Findings and Conclusions: Analysis of data showed no significant effect at the 95% confidence level. The proportions or percentages of high school students choosing to enroll in Earth and environmental science courses for the 2010-2011, academic school year are not significantly different across the state of Texas. Those students residing in areas at greater risk from the effects of natural events are no more likely to enroll in Earth and environmental science courses than those students who do not reside in areas deemed to be at high risk.