EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT

This study explores the influence of school climate on the academic performance of secondary school students in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, with the primary aim of understanding how environmental and relational factors within schools impact student achievement. The research seeks to identify specific elements of school climate that contribute positively or negatively to students' academic success and to determine the differences in school climate between private and public schools, as well as their respective effects on performance. Ultimately, the purpose is to inform educational policies and interventions aimed at enhancing school environments to foster better academic outcomes for students. Employing a descriptive survey design, the study gathered data from a sample of 100 students selected through simple random sampling from five public and five private secondary schools. The primary instrument used was a structured questionnaire based on a modified Likert scale, which was validated through expert review and tested for reliability via a test-retest method. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, including mean scores, with a predetermined criterion mean of 2.50 to determine the significance of responses. This approach allowed for an objective evaluation of students’ perceptions regarding various aspects of school climate and their impact on academic performance. The findings reveal that school climate has a significant effect on students' academic success, with positive climates fostering engagement, motivation, and higher achievement, whereas negative environments correlate with poor performance. Notably, private schools tend to have more conducive climates characterized by better safety, infrastructure, and motivated teachers, which translate into higher student performance compared to public schools. Based on these insights, the study recommends that educational authorities prioritize improving infrastructural facilities, safety measures, and teacher motivation within public schools, as well as promoting policies that cultivate supportive and psychologically safe learning environments. Such targeted interventions are essential to bridge performance gaps and enhance overall educational quality.