The relationship between the students’ academics achievement and their socioeconomic level: cross regional comparison

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of familial variables (education of the parents and family income) on the academic achievement (in mathematics, reading skills and science) of 15-year-old students in Turkey with respect to regional diversity. The study was carried out based on the data obtained from the PISA 2006 research in Turkey. The independent variables of the research are education level of the parents, and average annual income; the dependent variables are the students’ proficiency levels in science, mathematics and in reading skills. The general result of the research is that familial variables affect students’ academic achievement. Familial variables affect students academic achievement in mathematics most and their reading skills least. As regional developmental level decreases, effects of familial variables on academic achievement decrease as well.