(1/6) Is class a better measure of advantage and disadvantage than race? Students from families of lower SES are currently underrepresented on selective college campuses, sometimes to an even greater degree than students from racial and ethnic minority groups.
(2/6) The ratio of a group’s representation at selective colleges to its representation among high school graduates (with ratios of one representing proportional representation and ratios closer to zero representing greater underrepresentation) illustrates this point.
(3/6) Hispanic/Latino students currently make up 14% of the incoming class at selective colleges but 24% of high school graduates nationwide (a 0.58 ratio).
(4/6) Black/African American students make up 6% of the incoming class at selective colleges but 13% of high school graduates nationwide (a 0.46 ratio).
(5/6) Meanwhile, students from families in the lowest 20% of the SES distribution make up 8% of the incoming class at selective colleges but 17% of high school graduates (a 0.47 ratio).