DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/7HJT-9F50
Defense Date
2013
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Genevieve Siegel-Hawley
Abstract
Nearly 60 years after the Supreme Court Decision in Brown, segregation is still an ingrained facet of American public education. This study investigated the extent to which these continued patterns of segregation influenced graduation rates from high school. The study used data provided by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) on the 2011 graduating cohorts in 302 public high schools across the state. The results indicate that graduation rates for all students vary significantly as a function of the overall socioeconomic and racial composition of high schools. In addition, low-income students are significantly more likely to graduate in low-poverty high schools and minorities are significantly more likely to graduate in high schools that are not highly segregated by race. Finally, school level demographic variables explain a significant, independent share of the variance in graduation rates among high schools. These results lend weight to policies designed to integrate high schools as a way to equalize educational opportunity.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
May 2013