The IJICS (International Journal of Informatics and Computer Science)
Vol. 10 No. 2 (2026): July

K-Means Clustering for Adaptive Learning Recommendations Based on Student Academic Performance in Vocational Education

petti sijabat (STMIK Pelita Nusantara)
Eviyanti Barus (STMIK Pelita Nusantara)
Kristin Sitompul (STMIK Pelita Nusantara)
Sinta Suwanda (STMIK Pelita Nusantara)
Maira Mau Lydia (STMIK Pelita Nusantara)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 Jul 2026

Abstract

Differences in students' academic abilities create challenges in the learning process because many schools still apply uniform learning strategies without considering individual academic characteristics. This study aims to cluster students based on academic performance using the K-Means Clustering algorithm and to generate adaptive learning recommendations for each cluster. The dataset consisted of academic records from 50 students of SMK Swasta 2 Delima Sari in the 2024/2025 academic year, including assignment scores, Midterm Examination (UTS) scores, Final Examination (UAS) scores, and attendance rates. Data preprocessing was conducted through data cleaning and Min-Max normalization to ensure that each variable contributed proportionally to the clustering process. The K-Means algorithm was implemented with k = 3 to form high, medium, and low academic performance groups. The results show that 12 students (24%) were classified into the High Cluster, 28 students (56%) into the Medium Cluster, and 10 students (20%) into the Low Cluster. The clustering quality was supported by a WCSS value of 2.3714 and a Silhouette Score of 0.6843, indicating reasonably well-separated clusters. Based on the cluster profiles, students in the High Cluster are recommended to receive enrichment activities, students in the Medium Cluster receive regular instruction with periodic feedback, and students in the Low Cluster receive remedial learning and structured mentoring. These findings indicate that K-Means Clustering can support data-driven educational decision-making and provide a practical basis for adaptive learning recommendations in vocational education.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijics

Publisher

Subject

Computer Science & IT Control & Systems Engineering Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Description

The The IJICS (International Journal of Informatics and Computer Science) covers the whole spectrum of intelligent informatics, which includes, but is not limited to : • Artificial Immune Systems, Ant Colonies, and Swarm Intelligence • Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems • Bayesian ...