Krystine Schiding

Perceptions of High School Seniors: Preparedness to Transition into Post-secondary Experiences Krystine Schiding

The purpose of this quantitative research was to evaluate if there was a difference in student perceptions concerning readiness for post-secondary educational or career experiences. Four comparison groups (gender, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, and students receiving special services) were formed. Data were collected from an online survey from 215 seniors enrolled in a mid-Atlantic high school. Four categories of questions were designed. The survey questions focused on overall perceptions of high school education, level of subject skill knowledge, experiences with advice and counseling support, and development of student personal skills. Data were compared in gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and students receiving additional academic services. The data were evaluated through ANOVA statistics. Significance, F ratios, degrees of freedom, and mean scores were utilized in determining whether significant differences had occurred within the groups. Significant differences were identified in gender, socioeconomic status, and students receiving extra academic services. The comparison of ethnic backgrounds did not yield any significant differences.