Class and Coethnicity: Coethnic Concentration and Educational Outcomes.

• In Event: Sociology of Education Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1. Neighborhood Experiences and Educational Outcomes

Abstract

Segmented assimilation theory (SAT) argues that social capital fostered by co-ethnic communities facilitates the upward mobility of children of working-class immigrants. On the other hand, some argue SAT exaggerates how easily co-ethnic social capital traverses class boundaries, and propose its benefits are limited to children of middle-class immigrants . Using the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS) and High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS), we address this debate by examining the benefits of co-national concentration in residential zip codes and counties for the four-year college enrollments and BA attainments of Mexican-origin children of immigrants, and how they are moderated by family SES and community socioeconomic composition (SEC). We do not see consistent support for any benefit of co-national concentration nor its moderation by family SES or community SEC.

Authors

• Joshua Klugman, Temple University

• Jennifer C. Lee, Indiana University-Bloomington