Researchers have long known that when children feel supported by their teachers and peers, it is easier for them to develop skills to succeed in school and beyond. But a new Rutgers study has found that the effects of positive support in the classroom are far from universal, and often, it’s Black boys from poorer neighborhoods who benefit the least.
“Boys perceive a positive school climate but don’t seem to benefit from it in the way girls do,” said Adrian Gale, an assistant professor in the Rutgers School of Social Work and the lead author of the study, published in the journal Developmental Psychology. “If we can understand the mechanisms that drive this difference, then perhaps we can help boys attain better outcomes later in life,” Gale said.
In 2024, nearly 70% of female high school graduates ages 16 to 24 enrolled in college, compared with just over 55% of male high school graduates, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By race and ethnicity, the college enrollment rate was highest for Asian graduates (94.7%), followed by white (62.2%), Black or African American (59.2%), and Hispanic or Latino (55.4%).
Gale said a key factor in whether students pursue post-secondary education is how supported they feel in primary and secondary school, a concept scholars refer to as “school climate.” To read the full story.