Perceptions of School Racial Climate: Latent Classes and STEM-Related Outcomes

• In Event: Equity-Related Insights From Studies of School Community, Climate, and Culture

Abstract

The current study uses latent class analysis to group adolescents based on their perceptions of school racial climate (SRC) and explores group differences in STEM related outcomes. Results revealed that participants (N = 412, 50.2% female, 36.9% male, Mage = 15.72 years, SD = 1.24) were grouped into five classes: Poor SRC, Average SRC (AvgSRC), Average with Stereotyping (AvgSt), Positive SRC (PosSRC), and Positive with Stereotyping (PosSt). Classes differed by race, age, and STEM career interest. Results revealed less STEM course belonging, engagement, and needs satisfaction for the Poor SRC class compared to other classes. The PosSRC and PosSt classes reported greater STEM course belonging, engagement, and needs satisfaction compared to the AvgSRC and AvgSt classes.

Authors

• Jacqueline Cerda-Smith, North Carolina State University

• Channing Mathews

• Angelina Joy, North Carolina State University

• Kelly Lynn Lynn Mulvey, North Carolina State University