A Correlation Study on Attachment Style and GPA of Students at an Alternative Education Center

Abstract

Adolescents in America are dropping out of school in alarming rates. In the school year 2009-2010, 514,238 adolescents dropped out of high school. While alternative education centers have been created to meet the needs of these individuals, they are not always successful as evidenced by a graduation rate below 5% in several alternative centers in Florida. Previous studies have shown that students with a positive attachment style have higher grade point averages (GPA) and perform better in school. This study determined the attachment rate of students in an alternative center and performed a correlation with GPA. The results of this study showed there was no significant correlation between attachment style and GPA (p = .297). Caution is advised to draw a firm conclusion as participating students may have benefited from services put in place that could have amended their attachment style. It is recommended this study be replicated with students as they enter the alternative education center before exposure to services.