Comparing the high school evaluation by graduating seniors with a similar evaluation by lower division students

The Principal at Haywood High School ask not only the graduating seniors to evaluate the high school program, but also a group of 78 non-senior students to make the same evaluation using the SHRS scale. It was a surprise to find the ratings quite similar. The Non-Senior group rated two of the ten scale significantly higher than the Graduating Seniors--(1) Standards for college and non-college students separately, and (2) Annual assessments that agree with what is being taught and the school standards embraced.

The Senior Student High School Rating Scale (SHRS) was designed for use by graduating seniors to evaluate the high school program they have been involved in for the past several years. The present study sought to make a comparison between the ratings by graduating seniors and a group of lower grade high school students from the same school, and for the same period in time.

Groups Involved

The group included 128 graduating seniors who did not use their names or give any other identifying data, along with a corresponding group of 78 non graduating students from the three lower classes at Haywood high school in Tennessee.

General Findings

The comparative evaluation used three separate programs as depicted in Figure 1 and 2 and Table 1 below. Figure 1 includes the SHRS Evaluation Profile for the 128 Graduating Seniors. Figure 2 includes comparable data for the 78 students in the lower grades at Haywood High School. Table 1 contains a t-statistic between the means for the scores on SHRS between the graduating seniors and others.

Graduating Seniors

It is clear from the data in Figure 1 below that statistically speaking the graduating seniors at Haywood High School rate their high school better than graduating seniors from other comparable high schools in America. Not a single one of the ten SHRS scales were rated as being below average in relation to similar ratings by other high school students The overall SHRS Total Score reflected that above average rating.

Other Students

From Figure 2 below the ratings by the 78 students in lower grades also rated the programs at Haywood High School as above average, but slightly less than the Graduating Senior ratings. The SHRS Total Score reflects those slightly above average ratings.

Statistical Significance

In Table 1 below only two of the 10 means for the SHRS ratings showed a difference that was statistically significant with both favoring higher ratings by the non-senior group of 78 students. Non of the other 8 means showed any statistically significant difference. Generally speaking, then, the SHRS ratings by graduating seniors and other students were quite similar.

Discussion

When we examine Figure 1 for the Graduating Seniors and Figure 2 for the non-senior students, not a single one of the means for the 10 part scores is average in relation to the SHRS profile. An average scores in relation to excellence would be 15 or better, and we can not be satisfied with what other high schools are now doing. The SHRS seeks to depict ideal school programs in relation to the best state of the art in learning theory; and not for comparison with other high schools. The number of individuals who gave their high school program a "0" rating on all ten points ( not many, but more than one)suggests that guidance is there only for those who solicit guidance, and that those who fail to receive guidance are the ones filling our prisons.

High school seniors are the nucleus from which this great country must grow, and they alone have been the recipients of the high school programs for four years. In a democracy it is customary to ask recipients to evaluate any programs they have been involved in, and it is high time we recognize our high school students in this regards.

References

Cassel, R.N. (2000. The Senior Student High School Rating Scale (SHRS). China Vista, California: Project Innovation.

DR. DONALD F. DEMOULIN

Education,

University of Tennessee at Martin

Martin, Tennessee 38238

ROBERT MITCHELL

Principal

TOMMY MOON MSGT

AF JROTC Instructor

Haywood High School

Brownsville, Tennessee 78520

Copyright Project Innovation Fall 2000
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