Attitude Toward School and Academic Achievement

Two groups of urban eleventh graders were contrasted in their attitudes toward school by means of a specially developed poll. Classified as “satisfied” and “dissatisfied” with school, these groups of approximately 45 each were compared on the Iowa Tests of Educational Development. “Satisfied” students generally out‐performed “dissatisfied” students at a statistically significant level. The advantage of “satisfied” students tended to be greater on tests where academic skills were involved than on tests of general background information. It could be concluded that such skill development was more pronounced in students affirmative in their attitude toward school because of its association with typical classroom objectives and drill routine.