DIFFERENCES IN ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS BY CLASS RANK AT A 4-YEAR TEXAS UNIVERSITY

Examined in this study were differences in academic success in Texas between Hispanic students who graduated in the Top Ten Percent of their high school class and those Hispanic students who did not graduate in the Top Ten Percent. Academic success was defined as first and second semester GPA, final GPA, and number of semesters to graduation. Also examined in this study were differences in gender, dual credit enrollment, and Advanced Placement examination participation in Texas between Hispanic students who graduated in the Top Ten Percent of their high school class and those Hispanic students who did not graduate in the Top Ten Percent. Hispanic students who were in the Top Ten Percent had statistically significantly higher first and second semester GPAs, as well as final GPAs, than did Hispanic students who were not in the Top Ten Percent. Implications of these results and recommendations for research were provided.