Family atmosphere Perceptions and progress goals affect academic performance. This study aimed to predict academic performance through family atmosphere perceptions with mediation of progress goals at Yazd Farhangian University. Methods: This study was a correlation research using a "causal model". The population included 1064 students of Yazd Farhangian University in academic year 95-96, and 405 students were selected based on Morgan table and stratified random sampling method; based on gender

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... and semester. Measurement tools were parents' perceptions questionnaire (Grolnick, et al, 1997), and questionnaire of progress goals (Midgley, 1998) included 18 items and five levels. Furthermore, the previous semester average, was considered as the academic performance Index. Data from questionnaires have been investigated in two parts: descriptive and inferential by the software of SPSS and AMOS and using statistical tests and structural equation modeling approach. Results: Independent variables of family atmosphere perceptions and progress goals explained 23% of the variance of academic performance. The Indirect effect of family atmosphere perceptions was statistically significant (p<0/05) on academic performance. Therefore, the variable of progress goals, play a mediating role in the relationship between two other variables. Conclusion: Since both family atmosphere perceptions and progress goals, have a significant effect on academic performance; therefore parenting style and the role of parents toward their children to improve their performance is very crucial which requires parents to pay more attention.