Mitigating the effect of family poverty on academic and behavioral outcomes: The role of school climate in middle and high school

The persistent achievement gap between students from poor families and their peers calls for research that examines risk factors associated with poverty and strategies for promoting resilience. Research demonstrates the impact of school climate on behavior and academic achievement, especially in high-poverty schools. The present study examines associations between family poverty, social supports, students' perceptions of school climate, behavior, and grades. Poverty is associated with poor grades and behavior, while positive perceptions of school climate are associated with positive grades and behavior. Perceptions of school climate moderate the association between poverty and behavior, such that students from poor families who perceive a positive school climate exhibit similar behaviors to their peers from higher income families. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.

► Hierarchical regressions examine associations between family poverty, social supports, students' perceptions of school climate and two outcomes: behavior and grades.
► Family poverty is associated with poor grades and behavior.
► Positive perceptions of school climate are associated with positive grades and behavior.
► Perceptions of school climate moderate the association between poverty and behavior.