Abstract
Purpose. This study looked at whether the relationship between the African American male adolescent student and the African American pastor makes a difference in their education. The research was conducted using archival student data from 10 different schools in the Washoe County School District in the Reno-Sparks area of Nevada. The study was designed to answer the following research questions: (1) What is the academic achievement level of African American males students who attend church on a regular basis? (2) What is the academic achievement level of African American male students who do not attend church on a regular basis? (3) Is there a significant difference in the academic achievement level of students who attend church on a regular basis and those who do not attend church on a regular basis? (4) What are some student characteristics of African American male students who attend church on a regular basis? Methodology. This nonexperimental quantitative study was based on ex post facto student data generated by a three-item locator survey instrument which was designed to identify African American males who attended church on a regular basis and those who did not attend church on a regular basis. Participants from both groups were evaluated in behavioral and academic areas mostly using archival records. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS-16 statistical computer program and presented in contingency tables. Findings. Findings suggested that attending church on a regular basis and having a relationship with an African American pastor can increase student attendance, improve academic achievement, decrease nonviolent behavior, and increase the graduation rate for African American males. Results showed that African American males who attend church on a regular basis have higher GPAs, take more college entrance exams and take and pass more areas of the Nevada state-mandated high school proficiency exams than their African American male counterparts who do not attend church on a regular basis. Archival student data also validated that African American males are disproportionately represented in Special Education programs and are more involved with the juvenile justice system especially when they do not attend church on a regular basis and do not have a relationship with an African American pastor.