Defense Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Education

First Advisor

Jonathan D. Becker

Abstract

This study is a critical investigation of the school-within-a-school (SWAS) model. Through a look at the Academies of Hampton, a unique wall-to-wall Career Academy system created by Hampton City schools in Hampton, Virginia, this study aimed to understand the history of the Academies and explore the potential stratification effects of the SWAS model. SWAS have not been extensively studied nationally, let alone in Virginia, particularly regarding policy history and the potential effects of social stratification. Using critical policy analysis and a Bourdieusian theoretical framework, this study examined the following research questions: (1) What is the policy history of the Academies of Hampton as a SWAS? (2) How might the wall-to-wall academy system used by the Academies of Hampton contribute to social stratification? (3) How might the targeted branding used by the Academies of Hampton contribute to social stratification? And (4) How might workplace readiness training steer students into stratified occupational hierarchies? This study employed a qualitative methodology, and the findings were triangulated through the use of multiple data sources, member checking, and a focus group. This study fills a significant gap in the literature on the school-within-a-school model in general and offers critical insights into how SWAS design and marketing may perpetuate social inequalities, informing further discussion on how this institutional structure might perpetuate educational inequities.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

4-28-2026

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