Individual or Shared Identity? Perceptions of School Climate in Catholic schools by Ethnic Background

• In Event: Centering Diversity in Catholic Education

Abstract

School climate has been routinely associated with positive student outcomes. Scholars have found that Catholic schools promote positive school climate by emphasizing shared identity and values. However, others argue that this approach serves the interests of dominant groups, producing poor school climates for minority students. To explore these claims, this study examined perceived school climate among students (n = 22,286) and parents (n = 12,997) in Catholic schools. Results indicated that students attending majority-minority (50%> and 90%>) and Hispanic-serving Catholic schools report similarly to their peers attending less diverse Catholic schools. Results from parents largely echoed those of students. This study raises questions about the potential to improve school climate by emphasizing shared identity and values.

Author

• Daniel Hamlin, University of Oklahoma