Educational Hopes of Black and White High School Seniors in Virginia

Abstract

Abstract This study presents exploratory research comparing college aspirations and expectations of Black and White high school seniors in Virginia who desire to attend college, (N = 40,848; Whites n = 33,006, or 81% of total population; Blacks, n = 7,842, or 19%). Research questions investigate how expectations and aspirations are influenced by (a) high school counseling, (b) perceived parental agreement with educational goals, and (c) type of curriculum—college preparatory or other. Results indicate that Black students use high school counseling to develop educational goals significantly more than Whites do (p < .05). The races differed significantly in the high school program in which they were enrolled: Over 60% of White students and 40% of Black students were enrolled in a college preparatory curriculum. Yet this did not produce a significant difference between the races in their educational expectations even when they were enrolled in noncollege preparatory programs. Policy implications of these fin...