Survey of factors affecting the academic achievement of high school students in Tehran

A look to the advanced countries has shown all of them had an efficient educational system. One of the features of such a system is the rate of the student's academic achievement. The purpose of this study was the identification of factors which have effects on the student's academic achievement. Statistical universe included boy students of public governmental high schools of Tehran in 2002-2003 who consisted of 135000 persons. Samples were taken in 1200 persons multiple clusters from five regions of Tehran. Method of research was causal- comparative and correlation. Data collection was done by five measurement instruments or questionnaires and average number of the students. Statistical tests such as T- test, ANOVA, pos hoc tukey, correlation and multivariate regression were done by SPSS software. Results of 14 hypotheses examined were as below: a significant relationship between Anxiety and external attribution style with academic achievement and no relationship between student's attitudes to the teacher, neither Student's understanding of the importance of education in the society, with academic achievement was showed. The remaining 10 hypotheses had a significant positive relation between the factors and academic achievement. Regression test results revealed the student's attitude To the education was the best predictor for academic achievement (R=0.21) and after that, parents attitude and student's self- esteem were with positive effect 0.24 and 0.25, respectively. Student's attitude to the teacher was with negative effect (R=0.26). Key Words: Academic achievement, Achievement motive, Anxiety, Control resource, Family socio-economic status, Self – esteem, Welfareness.