A positive school climate improves academic achievement and reduces the negative effects of poverty on achievement¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2018 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Reviews of more than 400 studies find that a positive school climate improves academic achievement overall, reduces poverty's negative effects on achievement, and boosts grades, test scores, and engagement. → Darling-Hammond 2018

Evidence¶

Darling-Hammond 2018¶

Darling-Hammond, L., & Cook-Harvey, C. M. (2018). Educating the whole child: Improving school climate to support student success. Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/educating-whole-child doi:10.54300/145.655

q3 · i? · review · r2

The report's synthesis of two research reviews covering more than 400 studies concludes that "a positive school climate improves academic achievement overall and reduces the negative effects of poverty on achievement." The elements contributing most are teacher-student relationships, including warmth, acceptance, and teacher support.

"Two recent reviews of research, incorporating more than 400 studies, have found that a positive school climate improves academic achievement overall and reduces the negative effects of poverty on achievement, boosting grades, test scores, and student engagement."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Safety — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• A more positive school climate is related to improved academic achievement beyond socioeconomic status — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Community schools are associated with positive student outcomes including reduced absenteeism, improved academics, and more positive school climates — related
• Strong scores and growth on the 5Essentials Survey predict student success measures including GPA, attendance, test scores, and college enrollment — related
• Schools that mitigated proximity-to-homicide effects had stronger, more positive school climates, including engaging instruction and trusting relationships — related
• Positive school climate, which principals shape, improves attendance, behavior, graduation, and achievement and buffers poverty effects — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)