Parental Expectations

In this paper، drawing on Coleman's concept of social capital and Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital، the effects of different components of family social and cultural capital (i.e. family expectations of student's academic aspirations، family involvement in student's academic activities،…) on academic achievement of high school students were studied.Using a questionnaire، data were gathered on the academic performance of 393 students who were selected (on the basis of cluster sampling) from different boys and girls high schools in the city of Isfahan in the academic year of 1385-86 (2006-7).Research findings showed that the coefficient of direct effect of capital (which included social and cultural capital) on academic achievement was 0.43 and that its difference from zero was statistically significant. Therefore، the major hypothesis of the study that family social and cultural capitals have a positive influence of academic performance was supported.