ERIC Number: EJ1444026
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0094-0771
EISSN: EISSN-2327-6223
An Ouroboros of Oppression: The Self-Perpetuating, Inequitable High School Outcomes of Middle School Tracking
Jason West; Paul Ratanasiripong; Stephen Glass; Christopher Lund
Middle School Journal, v55 n5 p27-38 2024
This study investigated the impact middle school tracking has on outcomes in high school and the factors associated with those outcomes. Utilizing data from a large, diverse school district, this quantitative study investigated the relationships between middle school and high school English course enrollment among 4,503 middle school students. The conceptual framework of the Ouroboros, combining the theories of Lucas's effectively maintained inequality (EMI) and Merton's self-fulfilling prophecy (SFP), was used to examine and challenge the status quo of educational tracking systems. We identified three major findings from the study. First, chi-square analysis indicated a statistically significant difference between enrollment rates in accelerated or AP English courses between students who came from tracked and detracked middle school English programs. Second, logistic regression models indicated socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, GATE-identification, gender, and eighth-grade English course enrollment were significant predictors of student enrollment in an accelerated or AP English class in high school. Third, chi-square analysis indicated that there was a significant association between a student's eighth-grade English course label and their high school English course enrollment choices. Findings of this study suggest that detracking English classes at the middle school level represents an important stride forward in closing gaps in education.
Descriptors: Middle School Students, Track System (Education), High School Students, Correlation, Enrollment Rate, Acceleration (Education), English Instruction, Socioeconomic Status, Racial Differences, Ethnicity, Gender Differences, Academically Gifted, Predictor Variables, Course Selection (Students), Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; High Schools; Elementary Education; Grade 8; Grade 9; Grade 10; Grade 11
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A