Philippine E-Journals

Factors Influencing School Development and Student Enrollment: A Case Study of Santa Maria 1 Senior High School, Cirebon

Natalia Tika Indrawati | Henky Lisan Suwarno

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

This study analyses the internal and external factors influencing school development and student enrollment at Santa Maria 1 Senior High School, Cirebon. Student numbers have fluctuated in the past five years, showing the need for institutional improvement. This research adopts a qualitative method, applying the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) technique to identify the root of the problem and formulate appropriate development strategies. The data for this study were obtained through in-depth interviews with various stakeholders, including the founda-tion, principal, teachers, students, alumni, and parents. The results of this study indicate that school development and the increasing number of students are influenced by a combination of internal factors such as the quality of education program, leadership system, facilities, and the school image, as well as external factors that covered the economic con-ditions of the community, public perception, and competition with other schools. The root cause includes a lack of innovation in learning programs, promotion strategies were insufficient, and the misalign-ment of school values with community expectations. This study sug-gests the need for increased innovative learning programs, maximizing the strategic digital promotion, strengthening the school image, and in-volvement from active stakeholders to raise the competitiveness and the number of students sustainably.