THE IMPACT OF RISK FACTORS: ASURVEY OF INNER-CITY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS

At-risk students are characterized by risk factors, that is, attributes and circumstances associated with increased probability of academic, personal, and social failure. A wide range of student, family, school, community, and societal risk factors appears in the research literature. Based on the professional experience with at-risk students, 28 inner-city school principals and assistant principals rated the impact of 52 commonly cited risk factors. Student-based and family-based risk factors were perceived by administrators as most strongly contributing to student risk. School-based, community-based, and societal risk factors were perceived as moderately contributing to student risk. Implications for intervention and prevention are provided.