Nonacademic Factors That Effect Early College High School Student's Resilency

Author

Amy DraperFollow

Campus Location

Dallas Campus (Online)

Date of Award

12-2024

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4892-3612

Document Type

Dissertation

Department

Organizational Leadership

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Committee Chair or Primary Advisor

Christie Bledsoe

Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor

John Harrison

Third Committee Member or Committee Reader

Amy Barrios

Abstract

This qualitative descriptive study was an exploration of how counselors in early college high

schools (ECHSs), administrators in ECHSs, and the technical coaches who support the ECHS

model contribute to students’ resilience toward academic recovery. Using semistructured

interviews and survey questions, a sample of 15 counselors, administrators, and technical

coaches shared factors that impact ECHS recruiting practices, attrition rates, and the educational

success of individual ECHS students. Three themes were extracted from a sample of educators’

descriptions regarding their perception of the ECHS environment and the benefits and challenges

they experienced while working with ECHS students. They included the combined influence of

family and environmental support, peer relationships as catalysts for academic and personal

growth, and extracurricular engagement as a stress management and adaptation mechanism. The

discussion of the findings focused on the experiences and perceptions of the educators working

inside an ECHS. The results showed how family, peers, and extracurricular activities support

ECHS students’ academic recovery, indicating the value of improved college preparedness

among secondary school students. Recommendations for practice include implementing

comprehensive family engagement programs, developing peer mentoring initiatives, expanding

and diversifying extracurricular offerings, and creating a supportive school culture. The results of

this study provide further insight into ECHSs and how they serve their targeted population.

Researching nonacademic factors that affect ECHS resiliency and academic recovery provided

educational leaders with invaluable data in developing strategic initiatives, supports, and

recruiting practices for improving the ECHS experience.

Keywords: college readiness, college preparation, early college high school, resilience,

environmental support, personal growth, stress management

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Draper, Amy, "Nonacademic Factors That Effect Early College High School Student's Resilency" (2024). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 843.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/843