Emerson, Michael W.2015-06-152015-06-15May 20132013-05http://hdl.handle.net/10657/939African American males are not graduating high school at high rates; of if graduating, mostly on a Minimum Academic Plan. This longitudinal quantitative research, investigated archival data over a 5-year time period from an economically disadvantaged high school in southwest, United States, referred to in this study as Oak Park High School in the school district referred to as the Hammond Independent School. Specifically addressed were the graduation rates and graduation plans of African American males who attended Oak Park High School for at least two years and who either participated in or did not participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities. Statistical analyses revealed that African American males who participated in UIL activities graduated at 85.9% rate oppose to African American males who did not participate in UIL activities at 51% rate. African American males who participated in UIL activities were more likely to graduate on a Recommended Plan 10% higher than their counterparts who did not participate in such activities. This is important, because graduates on the Recommended Academic Plan have an opportunity to attend a four year university, as opposed to Minimum Academic Plan graduates who are limited to only applying for admissions at a community college or junior college.application/pdfengThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).African American malesUniversity Interscholastic LeagueDistinguished Academic PlanRecommended Academic PlanMinimum Academic PlanNo Pass No PlayEducational leadership2015-06-15Thesisborn digital