Explores social acceptance of inequality in U.S. education. Views the legitimation of inequality primarily as a product of early stratification in education, such as tracking, and cumulative reinforcement in a cultural context of contests as equality of opportunity. Early levels of schooling are organized as a series of contests. (SLD)

Examines recent changes in admission patterns and policies of some of the most prestigious American institutions of higher education, with particular reference to the University of California-Berkeley. Assesses the impact of these changes on Asian Americans and the principle of meritocracy. (FMW)

Utilizes data from the Metropolitan Opportunity Project to examine trends in White and minority experiences in the high schools, community colleges, and universities of Los Angeles (California) since the mid-1970s. Concludes that Black and Hispanic access to higher education has been severely hampered. (FMW)