Nikischer, Andrea B.
Researchers: Andrea B. Nikischer
University Affiliation: University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Email: nikiscab@buffalostate.edu
Research Question:
1) What are the mechanisms through which high school opportunity structures link to student choice of STEM major and college destination? 2) To what extent and in what ways do high school opportunity structures differ in schools with a large upper/middle class White population versus a comprehensive urban school (with a STEM focus) with a high population of poor and working class students of color? 3) To what extent do the mechanisms through which the high school opportunity structures link to college major choice and college destination differ in the two schools under investigation?
Published: No
Journal Name or Institutional Affiliation: DissertationN/A
Journal Entry: N/A
Year: 2013
Findings:
- Students in high-poverty schools experience concentrated disadvantage- fewer qualified teachers, higher teacher turnover, less demanding coursework, high dropout rates and lower levels of parental involvement.
- Forcing high-poverty schools to focus on trying to ensure that students pass harms top-performing students.
- The high-poverty school did not offer high-level math and science courses that are needed to feed students into the STEM pipeline.
- The students at the high-poverty school lacked the social capital to be adequately prepared for applying to colleges.
- Guidance counselors at both schools were providing very little assistance in terms of advocating for STEM.