From neighborhood and high school to a four-year degree and beyond: mapping progress at a predominantly white institution for Black students of Metro Detroit

Keywords: Higher Education, Urban schools, neighborhood charteristics, Socioeconomic Status
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 73

Abstract

Geography of education is an area that has been under-researched in geographic literature. Looking at the spatial variance of degree attainment can speak to a number of unanswered questions as it relates to equity, inclusion and economic mobility. Neighborhoods operate as a spatial social system meaning that neighborhood characteristics work in tandem to create inequalities between Black and White households based on the neighborhood where they reside (Darden et al., 2019, p. 118).
My research will build on prior research by examining the retention and and 4-year degree completion through the lens of the neighbor characteristics.
The data that I will examine will be of students from the tri-county (Wayne, Macomb, Oakland) area in Detroit, MI.
The data on neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics will be obtained from U.S. Bureau of Census American Community Survey 2014-2019 5-year estimates and the data on high school rank will be obtained from Great Schools data base.
Data on graduation rates will be obtained from Michigan State University Office of Admission The data will include the addresses of all first time freshman for semesters 2014-2021.
The data will be analyzed using the Modified Darden-Kamel Composite SES Index .This index will enable an analysis of each census tract by using z scores and nine variables to rank the tracts by quintiles from very low to very high.
Additionally, I will use the the Index of Dissimilarity which measures any differences by race and residential location.