A decade of U.S. school data reveals significant disparities in grade retention, with boys, especially Black boys, more likely to repeat a grade than girls. Black boys face nearly triple the retention rate of white boys, indicating a racial divide in education.
While overall student retention rates have decreased, the gap between Black and white boys has remained unchanged from 2011-12 to 2021-22, according to data from Big Local News at Stanford University and The Hechinger Report. The Office for Civil Rights has delayed releasing updated data, leaving educators and policymakers in the dark about recent trends.
Research suggests academic achievement and school discipline disparities mirror these retention gaps. “Schools reproduce the same inequalities that exist throughout society,” said James Ford, executive director of the Center for Racial Equity in Education, highlighting systemic issues across various sectors.
Related: A national divide over holding back students: Some states do it young, others wait until high school
State retention policies often exacerbate these disparities. Policies allowing discretion in holding back students, rather than sole reliance on test scores, disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic students, according to studies.
States like Mississippi enforce retention for third graders not proficient in reading, but exceptions allow inconsistencies. In Michigan, a now-repealed law held back students scoring in the lowest 5% on reading tests but allowed exemptions, leading to only 1% retention in 2023. Among those, Black students were overrepresented, comprising 72% of retained students despite being only 48% of those eligible based on scores.
Related: A lot goes on in classrooms from kindergarten to high school. Keep up with our free weekly newsletter on K-12 education.
Educators speculate that gender differences in maturity and discipline contribute to boys being held back more frequently. Boys face harsher discipline, impacting retention rates, said Constance Lindsay, a UNC-Chapel Hill associate professor. Behavior issues, such as physical fights, often lead to suspensions and subsequent grade retention.
Superintendent Christopher Barnes of North Carolina’s New Hanover County Schools emphasizes the need to engage boys in education to prevent them from falling behind. “If we don’t find something that sparks a boy’s interest, they tend to find their own things to do,” he said.
Contact Ariel Gilreath at gilreath@hechingerreport.org and Carli Brosseau at carli@theassemblync.com.
Produced by Big Local News at Stanford University and The Hechinger Report, in collaboration with The Assembly in North Carolina.
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