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Beyond Courses and Test Scores: Social Capital’s Role in Shaping Students’ Perceptions of College Readiness

Thu, April 24, 3:35 to 5:05pm MDT (3:35 to 5:05pm MDT), The Colorado Convention Center, Floor: Terrace Level, Bluebird Ballroom Room 3D

Abstract

In response to the call for new insights on how schools can “remedy” and “repair” societal inequities, we argue that greater attention is needed on how well high schools ready its students for their futures. This study aims to address the problems of misalignment between college expectations and high school preparation and students lacking knowledge of a comprehensive meaning of “college-ready.” We applied social reproduction theory to interviews with 14 high school students about supports they received for college readiness and their definitions of “college-ready”. We expose how the quality of supports is capital that influences students’ conception of college readiness. Specifically, relationships with counselors, teachers, and family members contribute to a student’s understanding of college readiness.

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