The Education and Employment of Low-Income Black Youth in White Suburbs

This study examines education and employment outcomes of Black youth whose families moved from mostly Black urban housing projects to either mostly White suburbs or other mostly Black urban areas. The study examined high school retention, grades, track placement, college attendance, employment, wages, job prestige, and job benefits. Despite concerns about disadvantages due to discrimination and competition with White peers, the suburban youth did significantly better than urban youth in practically all areas. In the suburbs, mothers and youth pointed to positive effects of higher educational standards, additional academic help, greater access to information about college enrollment, and positive role models.