Journal Article

Shadow Education, American Style: Test Preparation, the SAT and College Enrollment

Buchmann, Claudia, Condron, Dennis J., Roscigno, Vincent J.

2010

Overview

Cross-national research finds that “shadow education”—educational activities outside of formal schooling—tends to confer advantages on already privileged students. Shadow education in the United States, such as test prep for college entrance exams, has received considerably less attention. Drawing on the National Education Longitudinal Study, we analyze the likelihood of participation in, and the implications of, SAT preparation. Social class inequalities in test preparation, particularly costly SAT courses and private tutoring, are notable and have at least moderate consequences for SAT scores and selective college enrollment. We also find racial/ethnic variations in the use of test preparation. We consider the implications of these findings for understanding shadow education, stratification and educational mobility in the United States.

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press,University of North Carolina Press,Oxford University Press
• Subject: Advantaged / Class / Classes, stratification, mobility / College admission / College admissions / College board / College Entrance Examinations / College Students / Colleges / Colleges & universities / Comparative Education / Costs / Economic aspects / EDUCATION / Education systems / Educational activities / Educational Mobility / Educational planning / Educational Quality / Enrollment / Enrollments / Ethnic differences / Ethnicity / Family background / Forecasts and trends / High School Graduates / High School Students / Income distribution / Inequality / Influence / Learning / Longitudinal Studies / Market trend/market analysis / Mobility / Outcomes of Education / Parental education / Parents / Participation / R&D / Racial Differences / Research & development / SAT (College Admission Test) / SAT assessment / School enrollment / Schooling / Scores / Social aspects / Social Class / Social classes / Social Inequality / Social organization. Social system. Social structure / Social Stratification / Sociology / Sociology of education. Educational systems. Lifelong education / Standardized tests / Stratification / Students / Test Coaching / Test Preparation / Tests / Tutoring / U.S.A / United States / United States of America