Predictors of Placement in Lower-Level Versus Higher-Level High School Math

• In Event: Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Investigating Middle School Mathematics Placement and Instructional Practices

Abstract

Educators and researchers have long been interested in determinants of access to honors level and college prep courses in high school. We report a study of factors influencing access to upper level math courses. Our research analyzes a district-level transcript data set. We examine whether probabilities of enrollment in upper level mathematics courses in high school vary by demographic characteristics, before and after controlling for prior achievement. Before controlling for prior achievement, minority and low-income students have significantly lower odds of placement in upper level math courses; after controlling for prior achievement, the disparities disappear.

Authors

• Douglas A. Archbald, University of Delaware

• Elizabeth N. Farley-Ripple, University of Delaware