Schools: Expectations and Achievement

Abstract

African American boys have lower academic achievement than African American girls and boys from other racial and ethnic groups. High school and college graduation rates are lower and they are more likely to face suspensions, expulsions, and disciplinary actions. Overrepresentation of African American boys in special education has resulted in some noting that educational systems for African American boys are the first pathway to correctional systems. Lower achievement among African American boys has been accounted for in part by lower expectations from teachers and parents along with discrimination. Several theoretical perspectives including oppositional culture, disidentification, stereotype threat, and critical theory help to explain gaps in achievement. Factors associated with higher academic achievement include high racial and ethnic identity, academically engaged peers, monitoring and support from family, and after-school programs.KeywordsAcademic AchievementEthnic IdentityAcademic SuccessRacial IdentityStereotype ThreatThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.