Perceptions and Attitudes of Black Students toward School, Achievement, and Other Educational Variables

To provide data on the perceptions and attitudes of gifted Black early adolescents toward school, achievement, and other educational variables, the responses of gifted Black students (n = 48) were compared to Black students in a regular education (n = 50) and potentially gifted program (n = 50). Results indicate that gifted Black students held significantly different attitudes and perceptions than both potentially gifted students and regular education students relative to principles of the achievement ideology, attitudes toward school, attitudes toward academically successful students, and perceptions of parental achievement orientation. Of the three groups, gifted Black students were the most achievement oriented, and perceived strong parental achievement orientations; regular education students were the least optimistic and the most affected by negative peer relations and psychological issues.