Journal of American Indian Education

Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to explore the postsecondary education transition experiences of graduates of Choctaw Central High School (CCHS) who received support from the tribal scholarship program (TSP), to better understand the barriers to successful postsecondary completion and means of overcoming barriers. A total of 87 TSP-supported students participated as survey respondents. Purposeful sampling in the form of maximum variation was used to select six respondents for interviews. Findings documented three barriers to successful postsecondary completion: (1) racial conflict with peers or faculty, (2) being overwhelmed academically, and (3) having to care for a legal dependent. The barriers are discussed in the context of three primary factors related to postsecondary completion for American Indian students: sociocultural, academic, and personal factors.