Sociologists suggest that children from socially advantaged families continue to learn during the summer, whereas children from disadvantaged families learn either little or lose ground. This disparity in summer learning is hypothesized to result from differential participation in educationally beneficial summer activities. In this article, we…

Investigates the influence of attending public, Catholic, or independent secondary schools on students' choices to take mathematics courses. Finds that private school students took more advanced mathematics courses; however, finds that Catholic schools influence students' choices strongly and that they have the most equitable social distribution…

Analyzes data from the 1988 National Educational Longitudinal Study, which suggests that school policies and practices can reduce or exacerbate learning differences among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Results indicated that schools organized around a communal mission with more holistic assessment fared better than…

Using High School and Beyond first follow up data, this study investigated the social distribution of mathematics achievement of the sophomore cohort for 83 Catholic and a random subsample of 94 public high schools. Results showed that track placement and course of study are the major mediating factors that link students' background with academic…

Identifies characteristics of secondary schools that promote academic outcomes among a broad social and racial distribution of students. Compares Catholic and public schools by examining organizational differences between the two sectors. Statistically models the relationship between those features and the social distribution of academic…

Discusses a study of why 3,183 secondary school students and their families chose either single-sex or coeducational independent schools. Considers the personal, demographic, and educational characteristics of the students and their families and the students' gender. Reports that family traditions for private schooling and religious orientation…

Reports on a study of how engenderment (socialization to gender) operates in both male and female single-sex and coeducational independent schools. Finds that teachers initiated most of the incidents in six categories of sex discrimination. Asserts that schools with active gender equity policies were the least likely sites of sexism. (CFR)

Finds that teachers' professional efficacy is related to the environment in which they practice. Explains higher levels of efficacy in Catholic schools by organizational differences. Cites principal leadership and communal organization as essential to teacher satisfaction. Suggests fostering cooperative environments and reasonable teacher autonomy…

Investigates how social and academic background factors influenced transfer to 4-year colleges for 2,500 community college students. Reports that past academic performance was the strongest predictor of eventual transfer. Concludes community colleges contribute to social stratification in higher education. (DB)

Reports on a study that assessed the impact of school restructuring on academic achievement and student engagement among 11,794 10th-graders. Finds that students' gains in achievement and engagement were significantly higher in schools with restructuring practices and were associated with smaller high schools. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the impact of attending restructured schools on the achievement and engagement of 8,845 eighth graders from public, Catholic, and independent schools. Finds modest, but consistently positive, effects on both achievement and engagement. Also finds that students attending smaller schools demonstrated more academic achievement.…