Race, Gender, Socioeconomic Status, and Achievement Gap

• In Event: Communities, Neighborhoods, and Educational Opportunity

Abstract

The study focuses on the achievement gaps among 15-year-old students in the United States using the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) data. While a wide range of factors impact high school student academic achievement, this study focuses on achievement gaps in relation to three demographic variables: race/ethnicity, social economic status, and gender.

The study represents a secondary analysis of PISA 2012 data, Using hierarchical linear regression and Andrew Hayes's PROCESS program, the study confirmed the persistent racial achievement gap. Using a large set of socioeconomic variables (36 in total), the study manifested parents' education, their effort of making available basic home learning environment and their appreciation of classical literature, art, and poetry significantly influence their children's math performance.

Authors

• Tiedan Huang, Fordham University

• Anchala Sobrin, Spackenkill Union Free School District

• Michele Williams, NYC Department of Education