SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN COMPLETE PROGRAMS OF AGRISCIENCE EDUCATION

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive and correlational study was to describe the science achievement of participants in complete programs of agriscience in Georgia. A secondary purpose was to compare science achievement of agriscience students to the science achievement of college prep, dual track, and technology/career prep students. The findings indicate that agriscience students enrolled in an average of four agriscience education courses, have a high level of engagement in SAE, and a moderate level of engagement with FFA. The mean score for agriscience students on the science portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) was 511.24, approximately three points lower than college prep students (M = 514.85). Nearly 78% of the agriscience students passed the test on their first attempt in comparison to 68% for the state average, and only 38% for technology/career prep students. Further findings indicate a low but positive correlation between science achievement among agriscience students and the number of agriscience courses taken. There was also a low but positive correlation between the level of FFA and SAE engagement for both student achievement in science and the first time passing rate for the science portion of the GHSGT.