The impact of transportation connectivity on academic achievement of secondary school pupils: a case study of the Donji Miholjac Secondary School, Croatia

Sa？etak This study provides an overview of the influence of transportation connectivity as the sole predictor of academic success, using the example of pupils of the Donji Miholjac Secondary School who travel longer distances to school. The study was conducted in April 2016 using the methods of surveying, travel diaries, and pupil interviews. The survey results were compared with information on pupils’ academic success for the academic year of 2015/16. The study showed that there was a difference between the success of resident pupils and travelling pupils, in which the effects of other factors were not marginalised. The main issue pertaining to transport and academic success was a lack of alignment between bus schedules and the school’s timetable, meaning that travelling pupils are required to spend long amounts of time in transport, which resident pupils are not subjected to, and poorly-planned public transportation routes, in terms of the needs of the travelling pupil, which extended travel time. Though exact data showed differences in academic success, the travelling pupils did not perceive that their daily travels had a significant impact on their academic success