Dive Brief:
-
Public schools with high Black and Latino student enrollments offered fewer math, science and computer science courses than schools with low enrollments of those racial groups, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights this month.
-
American Indian or Alaska Native students (32%) and Black students (47%) are the least likely to attend a high school offering a full range of math, science and computer science courses.
-
Schools with three-quarters or more Black and Latino students were also slightly less likely to offer Algebra I — which is considered a "gateway course" necessary for preparing students for more advanced courses in both math and science — at 85% compared to 88% of schools with low enrollments of those students.
Dive Insight:
The STEM access data was highlighted by the White House on the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education last week and is part of the 2020-21 Civil Rights Data Collection, a mandatory survey of all public school districts and schools in pre-K-12 across the nation.
"The report reflects stark continuing racial inequities in access to math, science, and computer science courses for students in high schools with high concentrations of Black and Latino students," said a fact sheet released by the Biden administration May 17.
The data highlights that students of color continue to be underrepresented in STEM, a trend confirmed by previous studies.
The Education Trust, which advocates for equity in education, suggests that students of color should be exposed to rigorous STEM courses starting in middle school, a time when students begin to develop career interests.
"Access to advanced coursework and rigorous STEM experiences in middle school can also set students up for success by earning college credits in high school so they can graduate quicker and take on less student debt," the organization said in a 2023 brief.
Some Black students who do take STEM classes later recall negative experiences. According to 2022 Pew Research, four in 10 Black adults with at least a high school degree said they had at least one incident of being treated as if they couldn't understand the subject, being made to feel like they don't belong, or receiving repeated negative comments about their race.
Sometimes, a lack of exposure to and representation in STEM can also translate into less interest in high-paying careers.
For example, there is a 51% gap in exposure for Black students when it comes to the computers and technology career field, according to a March 2024 report released by YouScience and Black Girls Do STEM. Exposure gaps are defined as the difference between a student’s aptitudes and their interests.
"Without addressing this gap, many students flounder in school as they try to figure out their path," the report said. "They may also find it difficult to understand the value of postsecondary education, which can lead to changing majors, incurring additional debt, dropping out of school, and ultimately struggling to find fulfillment in their career as they miss out on indemand opportunities where they could thrive."
Dive Awards
