performance in secondary schools in Konshisha, Benue State was investigated in this study using

descriptive survey design. Three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses guided

the study. 405 students’ were randomly sampled from a population of 4520 students from 10

secondary schools within the study area. Parents Socio-economic Background Questionnaire

(PSBQ) was used for data collection. Validation of the instrument was done by experts in Benue

State University, Makurdi. The reliability was ascertained using Cronbach’s alpha and it yielded

0.79. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions.

Findings showed that parents socio-economic background influence students’ academic

performance therefore, the study recommends that governmental and non- governmental

organizations should assist students whose parents’ socioeconomic background is low by

providing the basic academic needs of students to improve their academic performance in

Chemistry.