Diverse classrooms improve the grades of all students in STEM courses, according to a new national analysis published in AERA Open and reported by Education Slice.
“It’s really notable that improving racial and socioeconomic representation leads to benefits for everyone and reduces inequities at the same time,” says study coauthor Nicholas Bowman.
Researchers note there are gaps in the rate of STEM degree completion between underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and white non-Hispanic students.
Increasing representation in STEM courses narrowed the gap among students in underrepresented groups by 27% and by 56% among socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
Grades improved across the board in more diverse classrooms.
Education Slice
