Anticipated Date of Graduation

Spring 2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences

Department

Mathematical Sciences

First Advisor

Doug Darbro

Abstract

There are always questions of how to increase every student's academic success. Of course, its been an important subject for discussion. Numerous research has been done to identify the key components necessary for developing and increasing student achievement. On top of that federal and state government put a lot of pressure on public schools to improve test scores and overall student performance. While the government proposes laws to address these issues, the budget still remains a persistent challenge. It often results in underfunded extracurricular and school activities. Teachers also face substantial pressure to meet these demands despite inadequate compensation.

Even though Education is balancing between those issues it is important to understand that the whole picture of education is a complex, interconnected web where student achievement is influenced by various factors that are interrelated. This study explored the impact of extracurricular activities, the sense of belonging, and performance on the Algebra 1 state exam on academic success at Somerset Academy Brooks, a charter Title 1 school with approximately 90% Hispanic students. The research examined how these variables interact and influence each other. The findings revealed that students who participate in extracurricular activities have higher GPAs compared to those who do not. Although a sense of belonging does not directly impact academic performance, it positively influences participation in extracurricular activities. This indicates that fostering a sense of belonging encourages students to engage in extracurricular activities, which in turn enhances their academic success.

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