Learning to Labor: Local Labor Markets, High School Course Offerings, and Student Course-Taking

• In Event: 287 - Section on Sociology of Education Paper Session. School, Peer, and Neighborhood Effects

Abstract

The idea that the primary purpose of schools is to supply workers that meet the needs of the national economy has been advocated for over a century. Recent concerns about the United States' global economic position have led to curricular upgrades in schools across the country. Yet, to what extent do schools offer and students take courses that align with the educational and skills requirements of the local economy? This study investigates the relationship between the occupational structure of local labor markets, school course offerings, and student course-taking. Results indicate that schools serving communities with higher concentrations of low-wage service and blue-collar jobs devote a larger share of their curricula to vocational courses and a smaller share to advanced academic courses. Differences in school resources explain some, but not all of the disparities in course offerings across local economic contexts. Students in these communities take more vocational courses and are less likely to take college-preparatory math and advanced academic courses, partly due to course offerings at their schools. This relationship persists even net of curricular constraints and other factors, and results indicate that the greatest disparities in advanced academic course-taking across local labor markets occur among high-achieving students. Overall, this research suggests that academic and vocational school course-offerings and student course-taking are highly stratified across local economic contexts.

Author

• April Sutton, University of Texas-Austin