Students Present Research at a National Conference in Washington DC

front, l-r: Elizabeth Stone, Abigail Holden
back, l-r: Dr. Conroy, Kael Briesacher, Dr. Briesacher

WSU students Elizabeth Stone '24 (Urban Studies/Environmental Science) and Abigail Holden '24 (Sociology) presented their recent research at the Eastern Sociological Society national conference in Washington DC. Their qualitative project is a deeper look beyond an earlier quantitative report on Advanced Placement Exam participation and performance at Worcester Public Schools that showed since AY 2007, and amid a 300% increase in AP test taking, WPS students fail more than half of their AP Exams. On average over that period, 62.2% of students outright failed their exams (scored a 1-2) with some years reaching 68%. Furthermore, another 20.6% of test takers earned scores of 3, which are also not worth college credit at a growing list of the nation's higher education institutions.

Supported in part by a Summer Undergraduate Research Grant from the WSU Foundation, Liz, Abby, and their professors Dr. Thomas Conroy (Urban Studies) and Dr. Alex Briesacher (Sociology), began wondering about the impact that failing an AP exam (or exams) had on a student's academic confidence and motivation to continue to college. Their findings indicate that failing AP Exams at WPS negatively affects these factors, especially for Latinx and Black students, two populations with already low college-going rates.

Although the professors accompanied Liz and Abby to the conference, the students were the lead presenters of the research and were on a panel with 2 post-docs and 2 associate professors from other institutions. They also participated in a robust Q&A after their presentation.

Alex, Kael, Liz, Aby, Tom, Dante, and Ida
at the Lincoln Memorial.
(photo by a very gracious Martha Assefa)

While in DC, the group got a chance to take in some sites including the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum, the Museum of the American Indian, the Botanical Garden, and the Museum of Modern Art. They were also able to connect with an Urban Studies graduate, Dante Comparetto, who is a teacher in DC, and his wife Martha, and new(ish) daughter Ida. It should also be pointed out that Kael Briesacher, a graduating senior from Salem State University and Dr. Briesacher's son, also presented quite admirably at the conference on his recent work.

In an amusing postscript, on the way back from Washington, Liz got the Wordle in 2.

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