The Impact of Principal Perception on Student Academic Climate and Achievement in High School: How Does it Measure Up?

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the independent direct effects of student and principal perceptions of academic climate on student achievement in high school. To date, few studies have considered the influence of principal perceptions of academic climate on student achievement. In the present study, we test a set of two-level hierarchical linear models using the large, nationally representative Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 to examine the independent effects of principal and student perceptions of academic climate on student achievement in mathematics, controlling for leadership and student and school background and context variables. Results suggest that principal perception of academic climate may have a direct effect on student achievement. Combining these results with the recent literature, we propose a mediated effects model of principal perceptions of leadership on student achievement.