Effects of Demographic and Institutional Factors on New York State Graduation Rates
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
Over half a century after Brown vs. Board of Education, the United States remains a country with large gaps in educational equality. While the variety of student experiences in K-12 public schools is vast, educational attainment is also greatly impacted by inequalities experienced in students' home lives. This work analyzes the effects of both demographic and institutional factors on high school graduation rates for New York state school districts. Specifically, the study investigates the impact of school spending categories and compares these factors alongside district-level factors of race, socio-economic status, and special education. Quantitative data analysis shows the heavy impact of the socio-economic status of students in the district and highlights the diversity of different district types in the state of New York.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Jennifer Strickler
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Sociology
Primary Research Category
Social Sciences
Effects of Demographic and Institutional Factors on New York State Graduation Rates
Over half a century after Brown vs. Board of Education, the United States remains a country with large gaps in educational equality. While the variety of student experiences in K-12 public schools is vast, educational attainment is also greatly impacted by inequalities experienced in students' home lives. This work analyzes the effects of both demographic and institutional factors on high school graduation rates for New York state school districts. Specifically, the study investigates the impact of school spending categories and compares these factors alongside district-level factors of race, socio-economic status, and special education. Quantitative data analysis shows the heavy impact of the socio-economic status of students in the district and highlights the diversity of different district types in the state of New York.