Advanced STEM Course Offerings and Completion in High School: A Study of Supply and Enrollment

• In Event: 15.059 - Fairmont Royal York Roundtable Session One
  In Roundtable Session: 15.059-3 - Learning Style, Personalization, STEM, and Instruction

Abstract

This study explored advanced STEM course offerings and course taking among Texas students to investigate availability and enrollment for different student groups. The research team used longitudinal student records to examine patterns of course offerings (from over 1,500 schools) and student course completion (for almost one million students). Findings showed urban and suburban schools serving the highest proportions of Hispanic and Black students offered the most advanced STEM courses. However, smaller proportions of Hispanic and Black students, compared to White students, completed three or more advanced STEM courses, even among high performing students. These findings suggest a need for increasing Hispanic and Black student enrollment in advanced courses and identifying mechanisms other than increasing course offerings to do so.

Authors

• Marshall Garland, Gibson Consulting Group

• Amie Rapaport, Gibson Consulting Group