Families or schools? Explaining the convergence in white and black academic performance

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Cook, MD; Evans, WN
• 署名单位: University System of Maryland; University of Maryland College Park
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/209975
• 发表日期: 2000
• 页码: 729-754
• 关键词: quality matter; public-schools; education; RACE

摘要

Differences in test scores of white and black students have narrowed substantially over time, falling by one-half since 1970s. Some have speculated that this convergence is due to changes in family background or convergence in school quality. In this article we decompose the convergence in test scores into that portion due to changes in parental education, changes in school quality, and a narrowing of the within-school gap in test scores. Only about 25% of the overall convergence is attributable to changing family and school characteristics. We find that nearly 75% of the convergence is attributable to changes within schools.