Chapter 3: Working with What you Have: College Preparation at a Low Resourced High School

In January 2007, Oprah Winfrey opened her school for girls in South Africa with much fanfare and international attention. A beautiful 28-building campus built across 50 acres, the school was specially designed to offer South African girls the best environment and opportunities for learning possible. Everything at the school is brand-new and state-of-the-art, from the classrooms to the library to the auditorium. No expense was spared, and it is likely that the school is one of the most well resourced campuses in the world.

Most parents wish their children could have the newest books, be educated in the nicest classrooms by the most experienced teachers, and have access to the most current and complete college preparatory information. The importance of school resources has been demonstrated repeatedly by education researchers and has been linked both to student success and access to college. For example,McDonough (1998) found schools with more resources put greater emphasis on going to college and had more collegebound graduates than schools with fewer resources. School affluence has also been specifically connected to Black student achievement. Attending schools that offer more rigorous curricula, are located in the suburbs, and are well resourced is associated with higher grades and achievement for African American students (Lee, Winfield, & Wilson, 1991).