PERCEIVED FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ACADEMIC UNDERACHIEVEMENT OF TALENTED STUDENTS OF PUERTO-RICAN DESCENT

This qualitative investigation explored the self and environmental per ceptions of six talented students of Puerto Rican descent who were und erachieving in an urban high school in the northeastern section of the United States. Family, school, classroom, community, and personality issues were examined, as were the ways that these experiences contribu ted to their actual academic status. Participant observation, intervie ws, document review, and other supplementary techniques were used to g ather data. The major findings of this study was that the absence of e arly appropriate academic experiences thwarted students' possibilities of developing their high abilities or talents later in life. Other in teractive factors influencing the students' academic life were also id entified. A model explaining the phenomenon of underachievement among the students emerged, as did suggestions for meeting their needs.