The main purpose of this study is fo investigate some of the factors that affect thernacademic achievement of female students in general secondary schools of west ShoarnZone. It attempts to identify the major Jactors under two headings: In - school and out- ofrn-school related factors. In order to attain the objectives of the study, a d..escriptive surveyrnmethod was employed. The study was carried out on five general secondary schools thatrnwere selected using random sampling technique form19 high' schools of west shoa zone.rnThe study also involved 300 female students selected randomly from grade 10 and gradern9, 50 teachers' selected randomly, 5 parents of female students selected randomly and 5rnschool directors and 1 guidance and counselor officer purposely selected form the fivernsample schools.rnDocumentary analysis, questionnaires and interview were the instruments usedrnfor data collection. The data gathered were analyzed using statistical tools such asrnpercentage and chi-s uare . . Based on the results of the analysis, though relativernincr-eTnent has been observed in the nz:mger of female students, percentf!15f!s oj femalernpromotion in each year shows that, female students' academic achievement relativelyrndeclined -through the years under consideration., Lack of guidance and counselingrnservices for female students, sexual harassment in and around school, distance of schoolrnfrom home and safety to travel to schoo{were some of school relaKdfactors identifiedrnfor low academic achievement of female students in general secondary schools. .rnOn the other hand, from out-of-school factors, lack of t!me to study at home, lackrnof parental support, the effect of broken home and low level of parental education werernidentified as some of causes for low academic achievement of female students in westrnShoa Zone.rnIt was also found out that the combined effect of both in school and out -ofschoolrnrelatedfactors were important in explaining the factors which affect the academicrnachievement of female students in general secondary schools of the Zone. It was thusrnindicated that the factors which affect the academic achievement of female students is arnfunction of variables which emanate from in-school and out-of-school systems.rnAccordingly, the improvement of these variables will make a considerable change inrnacademic achievement of female students. Therefore, it was recommended that mepsuresrnre.!9ted10 safety to travel to school, school policies on sexual harassment, availability ofrnprofessionally trained guidance and counselor in the school, teachers training andrncommunity sensitization and education be taken to increase academic achievement ofrnfemale students in general secondary schools of West Shoa Zone