Performance of Homeless and Highly

Mobile Students at Phoenix High

School
Problem: The homeless and highly mobile (HHM) population
has nearly doubled this school year at Phoenix High School,
but there is zero research on how these students perform
compared to their non-homeless or highly mobile peers.
2012-13 Phoenix High School HHM Population: 6%
2013-14 Phoenix High School HHM Population: 11%
Staff have a lack of awareness of:
How homelessness can influence students attendance and ability
to succeed in the classroom (Housing appointments, work,
applications for assistance, etc..)
Hypothesis: HHM students attending Phoenix high school
during quarter 1 of the 2013-14 school year will have lower
attendance rates and credit acquisition than their non-HHM
peers.
Literature Review
Academic Achievement Trajectories of Homeless and Highly Mobile Students:
Resilience in the Context of Chronic and Acute Risk.
Study performed in MPS displaying that entering HHM status had a negative effect on
test scores while exiting HHM status had a positive effect on test scores.
Necessary, but Not Sufficient: The McKinney-Vento Act and Academic
Achievement in North Carolina.
Comparing MCKV funded programs to non-MCKV funded programs and end of grade
assessment scores.
Substance Use and Health and Safety among Homeless Youth.
Study performed with 6
th
-9
th
graders showing that that academic failure often leads to
experimentation with drug use versus drug use leading to academic failure.
Protective Factors Associated with Fewer Multiple Problem Behaviors among
Homeless/Runaway Youth.
Survey format given to HHM youth with results showing highest levels of risky and
problem behaviors had low self-esteem, low levels of social support, and were 15-16
years in age
Adult Support and Substance Use among Homeless Youths Who Attend High
School.
Survey showing higher substance use among HHM students that identified with gang
membership and less frequently for HHM students who had higher levels of adult
support.
Performance of Homeless and Highly
Mobile Students at Phoenix High
School
The Plan
Calculate each students credit acquisition and days attended
during quarter 1 at Phoenix high school.
Sample = 93 Non-HHM & 17 HHM students
Maximum amount of credit available in quarter 1 = 4.75 credits
Days in quarter 1 = 45 days (August 26
th
October 31
st
)
Find the mean credit acquisition of non-HHM students.
Find the mean credit acquisition of HHM students.
Find the mean days attended of non-HHM students.
Find the mean days attended of HHM students.
Complete a t-Test on the two sets of means to find if they are
reliably different from each other.
COMPARING CREDIT ACQUISITION
AND DAYS ATTENDED BETWEEN NON-
HHM AND HHM POPULATIONS
CREDIT ACQUISITION
2.68
2.43
2.3
2.35
2.4
2.45
2.5
2.55
2.6
2.65
2.7
Mean
Credit
Earned
HHM
NON-
HHM
DAYS ATTENDED DURING Q-1
31.74
29.76
28.5
29
29.5
30
30.5
31
31.5
32
Mean
Days
Attended
HHM
NON-
HHM
p-value = .59 (Not statistically
significant)
p-value = .47 (Not statistically
significant)
Future Research & Training
Look at quarters 2, 3, & 4 Similar results?
Create home stability instrument to survey Non-HHM students
Look at MAP assessment growth HHM vs. Non-HHM
Compare to other sites comprehensive & alternative
IF there is a correlation between HHM status and lower levels
of academic success
PLC training How to best support this population
Experiential Learning Trips/After-school ALC Getting HHM
students involved in after-school and community programs

Our Homeless and Highly
Mobile Population
HHM by Race
86%
14%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
HHM %
HHM %
0%
How Can We Provide Additional
Support?
Encourage involvement in
our ALC and weekend trips.
Additional PLCs with our
HHM resources/agencies.
How to identify
After-school tutoring labs.
Additional career and
college readiness time in
advisories.