Assessing the Role of Noncognitive and School Environmental Factors in Students' Transition to High School in New Mexico

Beginning High School Survey

We would like to know your thoughts about ninth grade.

This is a questionnaire, not a test. There are no right or wrong answers.

This survey is voluntary. We hope that you will complete the survey and answer all of the questions, but you can skip any questions that you do not want to answer.

All of your answers will be kept as confidential as possible. No one will be told how you answered any of the questions. Your responses will be combined with those of the other students in your school to help us describe students’ experiences in ninth grade.

By completing and returning this survey you agree to participate in the research study. If you have any comments or concerns about this study, please contact Deborah Van Kummer or at (512) 391-6551. You can find out more information about the study and the organization conducting it, REL Southwest, at: relsouthwest.sedl.org.

Thank you for completing this survey!

Instructions: Please read each of the questions carefully and select the response that is most true for you. Please fill in the circles completely.

A: Your School

A1. How much do you agree with the following statements? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
I feel like a real part of my school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
People at my school notice when I’m good at something.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Other students in my school take my ideas seriously.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
People at this school are friendly to me.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I’m included in lots of activities at school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I worry about crime and violence in school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Students at this school are often teased or picked on.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Students at this school are often threatened or bullied.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I sometimes stay home because I don’t feel safe at school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

B: Your Schoolwork

B1. How often do you: (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Never	Once in a while	About half the time	Usually	Always
Participate in class discussions?	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Participate in group work inside or outside of class time?	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Raise your hand in class to ask questions?	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Complete your homework?	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

B2. How much do you agree with the following statements? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
I always study for tests.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I set aside time to do my homework or study.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I try to do well on my schoolwork even when it’s boring.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I don’t go out with my friends if I need to study.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I keep track of my assignments so I know when to turn them in.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I manage my time well enough to get all my work done.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I set goals for my performance in my classes.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I have a method for organizing my school work.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I stop to make sure I understand what I’m doing when I do my school work.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I put what I am studying into my own words to help me understand it.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I review my notes carefully to make sure that I understand them.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I quiz myself on the material to prepare for a test	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
When I finish an assignment, I check my work before I turn it in.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

B3. About how much time per week do you spend studying or doing homework for ALL of your classes? (Fill in one circle)

Hours per week

None	⃝
1-2	⃝
3-5	⃝
6-9	⃝
10-14	⃝
15 or more	⃝

B4. Please indicate how much each of the following statements describes you. (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Not at all like me	Not much like me	Somewhat like me	Mostly like me	Very much like me
New ideas and projects sometimes distract me from completing current work.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Delays and obstacles don’t discourage me.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I often focus on a certain idea or project for a short time but later lose interest.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I am a hard worker.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I often set a goal but later follow a different one.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I have difficulty keeping my focus on projects that take more than a few days to complete.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I finish whatever I begin.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I am a careful worker.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

B5. Thinking about your classes this year, to what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
I’m certain I can master the skills taught in my classes this year.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I’m certain I can figure out how to do even the most difficult classwork.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I can do almost all the work in my classes if I don’t give up.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Even if the work in my classes is hard, I can learn it.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I can do even the hardest work in class if I try.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I do badly in school whether or not I study.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

B6. Indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
I am good at math.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I will get better at math if I work at it.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
You have to be born with the ability to be good at math.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I am good at reading and writing.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I will get better at writing if I work at it.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
You have to be born with the ability to be good at reading and writing.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I am good at science.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I will get better at science if I work at it.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
You have to be born with the ability to be good at science.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

C: Your 9^th Grade School Year

C1. Since the beginning of this school year, how difficult has it been for you to do the following things? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Not at all difficult	Somewhat difficult	Difficult
Figure out what classes to take	⃝	⃝	⃝
Complete your school work	⃝	⃝	⃝
Make friends	⃝	⃝	⃝
Fit in with other students	⃝	⃝	⃝
Participate in school activities (clubs or sports)	⃝	⃝	⃝
Get along with your teachers	⃝	⃝	⃝

C2. Which of the following people have you talked to about which courses to take THIS YEAR?

(Mark all that apply)

Parents/guardian	⃝
Other family members	⃝
School counselor	⃝
Teachers	⃝
Friends	⃝
I haven’t talked to anyone about this	⃝

C3. Which of the following people have you talked to about which courses you need to graduate from high school?

(Mark all that apply)

Parents/guardian	⃝
Other family members	⃝
School counselor	⃝
Teachers	⃝
Friends	⃝
I haven’t talked to anyone about this	⃝

C: Your 8^th Grade School Year

C4. Last year, how many times did the following things happen to you since the beginning of the year? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	None	1-2 times	3-6 times	7-9 times	10 or more times
I was late for school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I cut or skipped classes.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I was absent from school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I got in trouble for not following school rules.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I was put on in-school suspension.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I was suspended or put on probation.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I was transferred to another school for disciplinary reasons.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

E: Your Teachers

E1. How much do you agree with the following statements? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
I get along well with most of my teachers.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Most of my teachers are interested in how I'm doing.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Most of my teachers really listen to what I have to say.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
If I need extra help, I will receive it from my teachers.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Most of my teachers treat me fairly.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Teachers make sure that all students are planning for life after high school graduation.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Teachers work hard to make sure that all students are learning.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Teachers see high school as preparation for the future.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
All students are encouraged to go to college.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Teachers pay attention to all students, not just the smart ones.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Teachers work hard to make sure that students stay in school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

F: Your Peers

F1. How much do you agree with the following statements? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
My friends try hard in school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
My friends and I talk about what we did in class.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
My friends and I help each other prepare for tests.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
My friends think that it is important to do well in school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
My friends and I help each other with homework assignments.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
My friends think it is important to attend every class.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

F2. How much do you agree with the following statements? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
I feel like I don’t fit in with other students in my school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I feel like students in my school are unfriendly.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I feel ignored by students in my school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I feel like students in my school disrespect me.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
I feel bullied by students in my school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

G: Your Parents

G1. Since the beginning of the school year, how often have you discussed the following with either or both of your parents or guardians? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often
Selecting courses or programs at school.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
School activities	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Things you’ve studied in class.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Your grades.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Your homework	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Plans and preparations for ACT or SAT tests	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Going to college.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

H: Your Future

H1. How much do you agree with the following statements? (Fill in one circle on each row)

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
Grades in high school matter for success in college.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
My classes give me useful preparation for what I plan to do in life.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
High school teaches me valuable skills.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
Working hard in high school matters for success in the workforce.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝
What we learn in class is necessary for success in the future.	⃝	⃝	⃝	⃝

H2. How sure are you that you will graduate from high school?

(Fill in one circle)

Very sure you will graduate	⃝
You will probably graduate	⃝
You probably will not graduate	⃝
Very sure you will not graduate	⃝

H3. What do you plan to do following high school graduation?

(Fill in one circle)

Continue my education at a 2-year college or vocational school	⃝
Continue my education at a 4-year college	⃝
Work full-time	⃝
Join the military	⃝
Other	⃝

H4. What is the highest level of education you plan to complete?

(Fill in one circle)

Not planning to complete high school	⃝
GED	⃝
High school	⃝
2-year community or career/technical school	⃝
4-year college or university	⃝
Master’s degree	⃝
Ph.D, M.D., law degree or other high level professional degree	⃝
I haven’t decided yet	⃝

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Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part E, Section 183, prohibits disclosure of individually identifiable information as well as making the publishing or communicating of individually identifiable information by employees or staff a felony. Per the policies and procedures required by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part E, Section 183, responses to this data collection will be used only for statistical purposes. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific school, district, or individual. Any willful disclosure of such information for nonstatistical purposes, except as required by law, is a class E felony.