This study analyzed the happiness levels of students with low achievement(LA) after high school
compared with students with normal achievement(NA), and explored high school-related variables
including learning self-efficacy, learning engagement, relationships, and meaning of life to analyze
structural relations to happiness. Data from 5th, 6th, and 8th year Korea Educational Longitudinal
Study(KELS) was used in this study. 1,057 students with LA and 1,464 students with NA
participated in this study. The results of this study revealed that students with LA during high school
were less happier than students with NA after high school. Among the high school-related variables
that were used in this study to predict students' happiness levels, learning self-efficacy and relationship
significantly impacted on happiness level positively. In comparison, the effects of meaning was not
statistically significant. Interestingly, the effects of engagement was negatively significant. In addition,
there was no difference in the structural model between students with LA and NA. Based on such
findings, educational implications were made that what high school-related variables need to be
considered to enhance students' happiness levels after high school.