Table 2.

Descriptive statistics for study sample by eighth grade course placement (N=3,306 students)

	General Mathematics			Algebra
	obs.	mean/%	SD	obs.	mean/%	SD	p-value of difference
n	1,940	58.70%		1,259	38.10%		0.00***
Gender
Male	1,007	51.90%		542	43.10%		0.00***
Race/ethnicity
White	169	8.70%		157	12.50%		0.00***
Hispanic	1,525	78.60%		685	54.40%		0.00***
Vietnamese	111	5.70%		279	22.20%		0.00***
Other	136	7.00%		137	10.90%		0.00***
Free/reduced lunch (NSLP) and English Learner (EL) status
NSLP status	1,525	78.60%		875	69.50%		0.00***
EL status	1,193	61.50%		380	30.20%		0.00***
Prior math achievement (CST scaled score)
7th grade	1,940	306	38.7	1,259	385	48.7	0.00***
Prior (7th grade) math achievement bins
High achievement	221	11.40%		973	77.50%		0.00***
Average achievement	839	43.20%		242	19.30%		0.00***
Low achievement	882	45.40%		40	3.20%		0.00***
8th grade motivational dimensions, Fall
Mastery	1,796	3.65	0.92	1,196	3.85	0.88	0.00***
Performance approach	1,807	2.55	1.07	1,198	2.43	1.05	0.00***
Performance avoidance	1,802	2.53	1.01	1,180	2.3	0.99	0.00***
Self-Efficacy	1,808	3.19	0.86	1,198	3.56	0.85	0.00***
Task value	1,811	3.38	0.61	1,199	3.57	0.66	0.00***
8th grade motivational dimensions, Spring
Mastery	1,915	3.39	1.02	1,251	3.63	0.96	0.00***
Performance approach	1,933	2.2	0.99	1,256	2.13	0.95	0.05
Performance avoidance	1,926	1.93	0.9	1,255	1.89	0.89	0.24
Self-Efficacy	1,936	3.14	0.94	1,258	3.35	0.94	0.00***
Task value	1,937	3.26	0.64	1,258	3.37	0.69	0.00***

Notes. Motivation scales = 1 – 5; Math scale score range = 150 – 600, 150-256 = Far Below Basic, 257-299 = Below Basic, 300-349 = Basic, 350-413 = Proficient, 414-600 = Advanced. Prior achievement bins: high achievement = Proficient or Advanced; average achievement = Basic; low achievement = Below Basic or Far Below Basic.