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Explaining Gaps in Readiness for College-Level Math: The Role of High School Courses

Author

Listed:
  • Mark C. Long

    (Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington)

  • Patrice Iatarola

    (Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, Florida State University)

  • Dylan Conger

    (Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, George Washington University)

Abstract

Despite increased requirements for high school graduation, almost one-third of the nation's college freshmen are unprepared for college-level math. The need for remediation is particularly high among students who are low income, Hispanic, and black. Female students are also less likely than males to be ready for college-level math. This article estimates how much of these gaps are determined by the courses that students take while in high school. Using data on students in Florida public postsecondary institutions, we find that differences among college-going students in the highest math course taken explain 28–35 percent of black, Hispanic, and poverty gaps in readiness and over three-quarters of the Asian advantage. Courses fail to explain gender gaps in readiness. Low-income, black, and Asian students also receive lower returns to math courses, suggesting differential educational quality. This analysis is valuable to policy makers and educators seeking to reduce disparities in college readiness. © 2009 American Education Finance Association

Suggested Citation

  • Mark C. Long & Patrice Iatarola & Dylan Conger, 2009. "Explaining Gaps in Readiness for College-Level Math: The Role of High School Courses," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 4(1), pages 1-33, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:edfpol:v:4:y:2009:i:1:p:1-33
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    File URL: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/edfp.2009.4.1.1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Rajeev Darolia & Cory Koedel, 2018. "High Schools And Students' Initial Colleges And Majors," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(4), pages 692-710, October.
    2. Charles T. Clotfelter & Steven W. Hemelt & Helen F. Ladd, 2019. "Raising the Bar for College Admission: North Carolina's Increase in Minimum Math Course Requirements," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 14(3), pages 492-521, Summer.
    3. Jason Fletcher & Marta Tienda, 2010. "Race and Ethnic Differences in College Achievement: Does High School Attended Matter?," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 627(1), pages 144-166, January.
    4. Black, Sandra E. & Cortes, Kalena E. & Lincove, Jane Arnold, 2014. "Efficacy vs. Equity: What Happens When States Tinker with College Admissions in a Race-Blind Era?," IZA Discussion Papers 8733, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Zullo, Matteo, 2022. "(No) Trade-off between numeracy and verbal reasoning development: PISA evidence from Italy's academic tracking," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    6. Judith Scott-Clayton & Peter M. Crosta & Clive R. Belfield, 2012. "Improving the Targeting of Treatment: Evidence from College Remediation," NBER Working Papers 18457, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Kalena E. Cortes & Joshua S. Goodman & Takako Nomi, 2015. "Intensive Math Instruction and Educational Attainment: Long-Run Impacts of Double-Dose Algebra," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 50(1), pages 108-158.
    8. Cortes, Kalena E. & Goodman, Joshua Samuel & Nomi, Takako, 2015. "Intensive Math Instruction and Educational Attainment," Scholarly Articles 34298862, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    9. Dylan Conger & Mark C. Long & Patrice Iatarola, 2009. "Explaining race, poverty, and gender disparities in advanced course-taking," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 555-576.
    10. Dan Fitzpatrick, 2020. "Challenges Mitigating a Darwinian Application of Social Capital: How Specific Advising Activities by High School Counselors Shift Measures of College Readiness But Not College-Going," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 61(5), pages 652-678, August.
    11. Dylan Conger & Mark C. Long, 2010. "Why Are Men Falling Behind? Gender Gaps in College Performance and Persistence," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 627(1), pages 184-214, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    college-level math; high school math; Florida;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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