A Mixed Methods Study on the Relationship between Parental Involvement and Academic Success among Grade 6 Students

This study examined the relationship of parental involvement to academic success among sixth grade students of a local elementary school in the Philippines. In the local context, parental involvement is inconsistent and inequitable (due to socio-economic inequality), which creates barriers to academic success and opportunities for students. The study focused on the three key dimensions of parental involvement: management of the learning environment; participation in homework; and emotional support. And six key dimensions of academic success: general academic skills, internal motivation or confidence, perceived instructor efficacy, concentration, external motivation or future, and socializing. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design of research was adopted. Quantitative data was obtained via surveys distributed to 184 students using stratified random sampling. In addition, qualitative data was obtained via interviews with the students and focus group discussions with 14 participants for a richer understanding of instructional involvement and academic success. The results offered practical significance with both instructional involvement and academic success rated highly. The results indicated that a strong and statistically significant positive correlation was found between instructional involvement and academic success (r = 0.682, p < .01). Qualitative results supported these findings, revealing that students with actively involved parents exhibited better study habits, increased motivation, and greater confidence in their academic tasks. The study concluded that parental involvement significantly influences academic success among sixth grade students. These results underscore the importance of consistent and meaningful parental engagement in supporting student achievement. The findings offer valuable implications for school leaders and educators in developing strategies to enhance home-school collaboration and improve student outcomes.