"Day in the Life" Studies of Students in Comprehensive and STEM High Schools: Opportunity Structures

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Abstract

This study presents “Day In the Life” studies of 8 students in inclusive STEM high schools and similar comprehensive high schools in the same states. By shadowing students and interviewing them, we gain an understanding of students’ perceptions of STEM education and opportunity to learn. Students were either Latino or African American, and they attended highly diverse schools. The students in both types of schools seemed to be finding success in high school and were aiming toward college. The comprehensive schools provided a smorgasbord of options appealing to students, if they find optimal classes. Classes tended to be traditional in approach. STEM schools required STEM classes, providing more personalized academic guidance and project-based learning and group activities.

Authors

• Sharon J. Lynch, The George Washington University

• Ann House, SRI International

• Inez Moore, Howard University

• Michael Robert Ford, The George Washington University

• Shari Matray, The George Washington University

• Erin E. Peters Burton, George Mason University

• Tara Behrend, The George Washington University

• Nancy Spillane, West Virginia University