ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to investigate school culture and its effect on the academic performance of junior high students of the Asuofua D/A cluster of schools in the Atwima Nwabiagya District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The objectives of the study were to find out factors that constitute the school culture in junior high schools, identify factors that influence students achievement in junior high schools and to find out the relationship between school culture and student academic achievement in junior high schools of the Asuofua D/A Cluster of Schools in the Atwima Nwabiagya District. A descriptive survey design was used to collect data for the study. The targeted population was all the 6 head teachers and the 124 teachers in the three junior high schools. Census sampling was used to select all the 130 head teachers and teachers for the study. Closed ended questionnaires were used to collect data for the study. The data were analyzed descriptively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) technique. The study found among others that school culture in junior high schools foster commitment to staff and students and also foster creativity and dynamism. Involving teachers in decision making and having discipline in the school influence students’ achievement. School culture inspires students to learn hard to achieve academic success and also help in motivating students to learn to achieve academic success. Based on the findings and the conclusions, it is recommended that the Ghana Education Service in collaboration with the District Director of Education  should insist on positive school culture in all its educational institutions to improve school success.