Transitioning: Academic and Social Performance of African Immigrant Students in an American High School

Abstract

Student achievement data in schools are often analyzed in terms of ethnic and racial parameters. Such data categorize African immigrant students as African Americans, thus creating an impression of homogeneity within the African American racial group. Given that these immigrant students relocate to the United States with cultural backgrounds that shape their views on educational opportunities, their school experiences render a unique perspective on the dynamics of schooling in the United States. Students enroll in schools where their racial status is an important defining characteristic. Their response to the school system and the racial and social dynamics that accompany this status has definite implications for their academic and social school experiences.