Factors related to absenteeism of 8th grade students of Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School

Abstract

This research studied the absenteeism habit of 74 8th Grade students of Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School for the school year 2013-2014. It also investigated the family factors, peer factors, school factors as well as their demographic features. It is a quantitative research and a questionnaire of three parts was used to gather the data. The results of this study show that majority of the respondents are females, 14 years old, Roman Catholics, living in the municipalities, with both parents as high school graduates. Their fathers are employees and their mothers are unemployed. They are troubled with insufficient family income, concerned with school requirements, excel the most in English and are weak in Math. Among all of the factors (school, family, and demographic features), only membership in gangs (under peer factors) showed a significant relationship to absenteeism. The 8th Grade students are actually good students because their age is appropriate with their grade level as suggested by the Department of Education. The 8th grade is focused on their studies since they are always concerned with their school requirements and do not enter any gangs and fraternities.