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With the increased use of technology in the world today, the realm of education has not been immune. Schools around the country have implemented expensive one-to-one device programs with little research-based evidence that they are beneficial for student achievement. With an increased focus on student achievement for federal and state accountability, it is critical that school districts and stakeholders make decisions, especially financial ones, that benefit student academic performance. Critical Discourse Analysis provided a guiding framework to analyze the conflicting language that surrounded the use of devices in education. Studies argued that the use of technology and devices in education leveled the playing field for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, while others suggested it expanded the gap already present. The purpose of the quantitative comparative case study was to determine whether or not one-to-one device programs were beneficial for high school students' academic performance and specifically students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The results of the study found a statistically significant decrease in achievement in the areas of Math and English, for all students, including those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The significant decrease in overall achievement in Math was double that of English. The implications of the results include the necessity for further evaluation of the role devices play in a student's education. Additionally, the results also suggested that when that role is clear, there is a need for additional training and support for both teachers and students regarding the use of devices in education. Moving forward, future research is warranted on the use of devices in education. Future research should be expanded to include other academic areas as well as levels to determine if devices are beneficial for student achievement at all. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]