Using Ethnicity, SAT/ACT Scores, and High School GPA To Predict Retention and Graduation Rates.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of first-time-in-college (FTIC) freshmen with race, high school grade point average (GPA), and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and ACT Assessment scores. Data were obtained for 5 years of fall semester FTIC cohorts (n=8,573). The results show: (1) SAT and ACT scores were unrelated to re-enrollment/graduation rates; (2) re-enrollment/graduation rates were positively related to high school GPA; and (3) overall re-enrollment/graduation rates differed very little between races when high school GPA was controlled for. Among students with low high school GPAs, however, African Americans re-enrolled/graduates at a lower rate than other ethnic groups. Conversely, among students with high school GPAs, African Americans re-enrolled/graduated at a higher rate than other ethnic groups. (Author/SLD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Using Ethnicity, Sat/ACT Scores, and High School GPA to Predict Retention and Graduation Rates Gordon Waugh, Ted Micceri, & Pradnya Takalkar University of South Florida Paper Presented at FAIR Conference Orlando, Florida, June 15-17, 1994 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAi_ HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 OF EDUCATION U.S. DEPARTMENT Research and Improvement Office of Educational INFORMATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CENTER(ERIC) reproduced as VeThis document has been or organizaiion received from the person originating it. to been made 0 Minor changes have quality. improve reproduction this opinions stated in Points of view or document do not necessarily represent policy. official OERI position or 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE