The Relationship Between Peer Racial Composition on Advanced Placement Course Enrollment for Latino(a) Students

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Abstract

We explore the relationship between peer racial composition on Advanced Placement (AP) course enrollment for Latino(a) students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Drawing on the framework of peer spillover effect within schools, we analyzed longitudinal districtwide student data with district demographics, using multilevel (logistic) regression models with cohort-fixed effects. Results show that a higher racial composition of Hispanic students in AP enrollment is associated with an increase in the same-race students’ likelihood of participating in AP courses, the total number of AP enrollments, and participation in earlier grades. This study provides implications for encouraging existing Hispanic students to participate in AP classes to increase the number of new Hispanic students taking AP courses in the subsequent year.

Authors

• Sangmin Park, University of Missouri

• Se Woong Lee, University of Missouri