A Critical Qualitative Study of the College Pathways of High-Achieving Foster Youth

• In Event: Exploring Access Opportunities for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education

Abstract

Foster care youth and alumni represent one of most educationally vulnerable populations in K–12 and higher education (e.g., Courtney et al., 2011). Extant empirical research on foster care alumni highlights myriad factors that contribute to their alarming attrition and underrepresentation in higher education. Yet, considerably less is known about individuals who translate educational disadvantages into college access and success. Drawing on community cultural wealth framework, this asset-based study found that the highest achieving youth successfully navigate the college choice and enrollment process using social capital (e.g., teachers, extended family) and navigational capital. Overall, four distinct forms of capital were found to be pivotal to their educational success: aspirational, social, resistant, and navigational capital.

Author

• Mauriell H. Amechi, University of Redlands