FACTORS AFFECTING SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL TRACK PREFERENCES OF

GRADE 10 STUDENTS IN SAN JUAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

A Research Paper

Presented to the Faculty of San Juan National High School

as a Requirement in Practical Research 2

ALBANTE, MAE HAZEL

ASUNCION, CRISTINA FAITH

REAL, ERWIN

SAN JOSE, KATE

TORRES, REY ALLAINE

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

Education is an essential tool in the development of both individuals and the

society. Education system are designed to provide foundational knowledge for

students to prepare them for their future careers. Senior High School (SHS)

curriculum in secondary level is a crucial phase in the educational journey of every

students. The Senior High School level offers various tracks for students to help

them prepare for their future academic endeavors, vocational works, or starting

their own businesses. Choosing Senior High School Tracks is significant and crucial

phase among Grade 10 students as it significantly impacts their future academic

and career paths.

The Senior High School (SHS) program in the Philippines currently offers four

main tracks: Academic, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TLE), Sports, and Arts and

Design (DepEd, 2015). Each track specializes and caters the different aspirations of

the students. However, the Departmen of Education (DepEd) has revised and

strengthen the Senior High School Curriculum, where it has been already being

piloted in selected schools nationwide wherein the senior high school tracks will now

be divided in two: the Academic Track and Technical-Professional (TechPro) Track,

that aims to help the students enhance and utilize their strengths on their chosen

field (DepEd, 2025).

However, despite the options, Junior High School completers do not have firm

decision in choosing their Senior High School Track, and frequently consult with their

teachers, parents, and peers in making their decision (Crawford et. al, 2024). This
may result in dissatisfaction and unfulfillment of the student with their choice, as

their decision are being heavily shaped by several factors aside from their own

goals.

There are several factors that may influence the decision of the student in

choosing senior high school track. These factors include: Socio-economic status,

Personal Interests, Parental Influence, Peer Influence, and Job Opportunities,

however, these factors do not operate in isolation, but often overlap and affect each

other. (Kilag et. al, 2023). These overlapping factors can cause internal conflict to

students. This highlights the complexity of decision-making process by students, it

is a phase where the students balancing their choices among the mentioned factors.

In addition, Nazareno et. al (2021) state that students’ personal preferences

and parental expectations are the primary factors that affect the students’ senior

high school track choice. This emphasizes the inner conflict of the students, when

the personal preferences of the students are not aligned with the expectation of

others.

Apart from the factors mentioned, the limited school tracks being offer, peer

influence, and financial limitations often add to students’ uncertainty in making

their decision towards senior high school track (Fulache, 2024). This shows that

decisions of the students are not only being affected by personal and familial
factors but also other external factors caused by their environment such as peers,

financial constraints, and unavailability of tracks.

In connection with this, San Juan National High School currently has (3)

tracks. These include Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), and General

Academic Strand (GAS), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

(STEM), which are all under of Academic Track; the other tracks are Technical-

Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) Track; and Arts and Design Track. Furthermore, the

researchers observed that the number of students enrolled in Academic Track are

higher than the students enrolled in TVL and Arts and Design Track.

With the aforementioned facts and despite the growing body of literature and

studies regarding senior high school track preferences, there are still lack of

localized research in secondary schools, particularly in San Juan National High

School. Meanwhile, other literature and studies give insights, they fail to capture the

specific challenges and limitations faced by the students in other local communities.

This gap highlights the need to conduct further research regarding the Factors

Influencing the Senior High School Track Preferences of Grade 10 Students

specifically in San Juan National High School, wherein the students’ decisions are

being shaped by their different backgrounds which may differ to those researched

conducted areas.
With the revised senior high school curriculum by Department of Education

(DepEd), the researchers aims to analyze and identify the factors affecting the

students’ senior high school track preferences among Academic Track and

Technical-Professional (TechPro) Track. Furthermore, this study will serve as guide for

students, parents, and teachers, in understanding the factors affecting the decision-

making of students in choosing their track.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study seeks to identify the different factors affecting the Senior High

School Track Preferences of Grade 10 Students in San Juan National High School.

Moreover, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What are the track preferences of Grade 10 Students among:

a. Academic Track ;and

b. Technical-Professional (TechPro) Track?

2. What factors affecting the track preferences of the Grade 10 Students

along:

a. Parental Influence;

b. Financial;

c. Peer Influence;

d. Job Opportunities; and

3. What are the recommendations may be proposed based on the findings of

the study to help improve track selection guidance for Grade 10 Students?

OBJECTIVES

In identifying the Factors Influencing the Senior High School Track of

Preferences of Grade 10 Students of San Juan National High School, the study seeks

to:

1. Analyze the distribution of track preferences among Grade 10 students,

focusing on:

a. Academic Track; and

b. Technical-Professional (TechPro) track.

2. Examine the extent to which various factors affect grade 10 students' track

decisions, particularly:

a. The role of parental influence;

b. The impact of financial capability;

c. The effect of peer influence;

d. The job opportunities; and

e. Their personal interest

3. Develop practical recommendations and interventions that school

administrators, teachers, and guidance counselors can use to assist Grade 10

track.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This study focused on identifying the factors affecting the senior high school track

preferences of Grade 10 Students in San Juan National High School of School Year

2025-2026.

This will focus on the factors such as Parental Influence, Socio-economic Status,

Peer Influence, Job Opportunities, and Personal Interest. There may be more factors,

however, those are not included in this study. This study is limited to descriptive

research design and the researchers will gather data using survey questionnaires.

Only Grade 10 students are included as respondents and those wjo are belong to

other grade levels are excluded in this study.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research will be beneficial to the following:

Students. This study will help the Grade 10 students to understand the different

factors that affects their choice of Senior High School Track. This can guide them in

making better decisions for their future.

Parents. Parents can better understand the factors that influences the Senior High

School Track preferences of their children, allowing them to give meaningful support

and guidance regarding track selection.

students, enabling them to give personalized guidance and support.

Guidance Counselors. This study offers insights that Guidance Counselors can use

in counseling to help students make informed decisions based on their interests,

capabilities, and opportunities.

School Administrators. The findings of this study can be use to improve programs

and tracks, and ensure that offered tracks are aligned with students’ interests and

future job demands.

Community. By understanding the factors affecting the decisions of students, the

community can take an active role in supporting educational goals and giving local

opportunities.

Other Researchers. This study may serve as reference if they want to explore

similar topics in the future.

REFERENCES

Department of Education. (2015). Guidelines on the Implementation of the SHS

Program in Existing Public JHSs and ISs, Establishment of Stand-Alone Public

SHSs, and Conversion of Existing Public Elementary and JHSs Into Stand-

Alone SHSs (DepEd Order No. 51, s. 2015).https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-

content/uploads/2015/10/DO_s2015_51_0.pdf
Department of Education. (2025). Pilot Implementation of the Strengthened Senior

High School Curriculum for Grade 11 in School Year 2025-2026 (DepEd

Memorandum No. 048, s. 2025)

https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/DM_s2025_048r.pdf

Crawford, E. M., Base, J., Laguerta, S. T., Alarma, C. N., Paclibar, M., Luntak, K. M.,

Bellen, M. A., Castro, M., Salva, R. (2024). Factors Affecting the Senior High

School Track and Strand Preferences of Grade 11 Entrants. (Unpublished).

San Juan National High School.

Kilag, O. K., Dejino, J., Arcillo, M., Borong, M., Manligoy, R., Combista, L. (2023).

Exploring the Determinants of Senior High School Track Preference Among

Grade 10 Students: A comprehensive study. Web of Semantic: Universal

Journal on Innovative Education, Volume 2 Issue 6, pp. 31-42

Nazareno, A., Lopez-Relente, M. J., Gestiada, G., Martinez, M., De Lara, M. L., Roxas-

Villanueva, R. M. (2021). Factors Associated with Career Track Choice of

Senior High School Students. Philippine Journal of Science. 150 (5), 1043-

1060. https://doi.org/10.56899/150.05.15

Fulache, A. (2024). Factors Influencing the Senior High School Students' Track

Choice: A Convergent Parallel Approach. Multicultural Education Journal. pp.

27-44. https://doi.org/10.63186/mej.vi.11