An analysis of the factors that influence student performance: A fresh approach to an old debate

There is a general consensus that student performance at all levels has bee n deteriorating. Despite numerous attempts by researchers to link school ex penditures with student performance, a clear relationship does not exist. S ince a number of difficulties plague earlier studies, this paper attempts t o remedy these problems by offering a better data design and a sounder meth odology. This study uses the 1992 Massachusetts Educational Assessment Prog ram (MEAP) test scores from 4(th), 8(th), and 12(th) grade students to meas ure student performance. Since each student's grade falls into one of five possible categories, the application of an ordered legit model incorporates the natural ordering of the MEAP scores. The results indicate that family background and the stability of a community are the main factors affecting student performance. The data suggest that higher levels of spending have n o consistent or systematic relation with student performance.