ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this study was to establish the correlation between family background and students’ academic performance in Economics in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area, Cross River State. Specifically, the study sought to determine the relationship between parental socio-economics status, parental level of Education, Family size and parental occupation. To achieve these objectives, four research questions and four null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Relevant Literature were reviewed from documents in line with the variables of the study. Correlational Survey Research design was adopted. The population consisted 6,349 Senior Secondary Two (SS II) students. A sample of 200 students were randomly selected and used for the study. Two instruments such as “students family background variables questionnaire” (SFBVQ) and Economics Achievement Test (EAT) were constructed by the Researcher for data collection. The instruments were validated by three experts and a reliability index of 0.74 and 0.84 obtained for SFBVQ and EAT respectively using Cronbach Alpha reliability method. The collected data was scored, coded and analysed using simple percentage while the four hypothesis were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and at .05 level of significance. The results of analysis revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between parental socio-economic status, parental level of education, family size and parental occupation. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others that Government should formulate policies that will ensure free and compulsory quality education to bridge the gap between the rich and less privileged homes.