We examine findings from an ongoing, arts-based youth participatory action research (YPAR) project that aims to make space for diverse high school students to express their experiences within structures of injustice, as played out through schooling practices. Over the past two years, our collective has gathered and collaboratively analyzed…

This study extends research on cultural reproduction theory and employs a critical quantitative lens to examine how schools contribute to differential science outcomes based on intersectional student backgrounds. Using nationally representative PISA 2015 data, structural equation modeling is utilized with intersectional student background groups…

Our study evaluated the effectiveness of a new tracking policy called self-selection (SS). The purpose of SS was to increase the representation of students of color in advanced mathematics courses at an urban midwestern middle school. We conducted a multinomial logistic regression to determine the effect of the SS on enrollment trends among 2,627…

Educational dialogue has emphasized that math and science courses be more meaningful and engaging in high school. One way in which this has materialized has been through the introduction of applied STEM courses (i.e., information technology and engineering). In these courses, traditional math and science concepts are to be more educationally…

Using a two-stage, matched design, we found dual enrollment students enrolled in college within one year of their expected high school graduation at higher rates than control students who did not take college classes in high school (OR = 3.06). For students that matriculated within one year after high school, compared to control, treatment…

The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine how gender shapes women's college-going behaviors in an urban district attempting to remedy racial and economic inequities in college access. Using case study methodology, we examined the experiences of 22 racially diverse women students and 18 institutional agents at three high schools--one…

The purpose of this narrative analysis was to assess the perceived curricular offerings and challenges of traditional-aged rural students in higher education, and to understand how these challenges relate to AP courses. Specifically, this study assessed the secondary curricular offerings available to rural students and how they affect their…

In this manuscript, we present data and perspectives of 33 stakeholders within a predominately (98%) African American/Black and low-income (100%) STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Academy located within an urban setting. Stakeholders of the STEAM Academy included administrators, community members, school counselors,…

Student-teacher relationships are critical to ensuring successful transitions to high school, but programs focused on building strong relationships have been concentrated at younger school levels. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to gather feedback from ninth grade students, teachers/staff, and administrators regarding an existing…

Bullying and peer victimization are increasingly recognized as a detriment to the well-being of students. While the past two decades have seen the development of several effective approaches to prevention at the elementary and middle school levels, very little research has documented effective strategies for students in high schools. The current…

Out-of-school mathematics programs (OSMPs) can be a great benefit for students in STEM. However, little is known about how students perceive the support provided to them by such programs, especially with respect to students of color. In this paper, we draw upon a framework of institutional resource types (Nasir & Cooks, 2009) and performed a…

During times of uncertainty, educators must listen so they can understand and create spaces for their students to imagine their dreams and possibilities. This paper examines and celebrates the resilience of two young African American men in high school who learned to claim agency during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Living in a culture that…

Mental health issues are a barrier to learning for many secondary students. Students with mental health issues need to be identified, and teachers, who see students daily, are essential in identifying, referring, and supporting students with mental health needs. There is scant literature on secondary teachers' self-efficacy in supporting secondary…

Research on data use and school Early Warning Systems (EWS) notes a central practice of researchers and practitioners is to search for patterns in student data to predict outcomes so schools can support success when students experience challenges. Yet, the domain lacks a means to visualize the rich longitudinal data that schools collect. Here, we…

If Young Adult (YA) literature constitutes one of the social mechanisms that indoctrinate teenagers into working within capitalistic institutions, high school teachers would do well to ask what political and economic ideologies YA fiction invites teenage readers to adopt. This article examines one genre of YA literature--YA dystopian fiction--to…