Identifying Barriers to Black Student Participation in the Advanced Placement Program

Author

• Juan Ramon Jauregui Jr., University of the PacificFollow

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Transformative Action in Education

First Advisor

Anne Zeman

First Committee Member

Rachelle Kisst Hackett

Second Committee Member

Eugene Christmas

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the factors that encouraged or deterred students from enrolling in Advanced Placement (AP) courses during high school. Grounded in Critical Race Theory, the research reviewed how school systems, relationships with peers and adults, and individual student factors influenced the participants in this study. The researcher utilized semistructured interviews with seven Black students who were currently enrolled in college and had recently graduated high school, and identified the factors that influenced their decision-making process in enrolling in AP courses. Using a thematic analysis approach, data was organized, coded, and then the researcher identified multiple themes emerging from the data. The six themes that emerged included the influence of adults, academic identity and perceptions about the AP program, access to AP program information, competing priorities, peer influence, and racial representation and sense of belonging. The findings revealed that enrollment decisions were impacted not just by a participant’s academic identity and confidence, but also access to information, and encouragement or discouragement from school staff. This study contributes to existing literature on the topic of the AP participation gap, centering student voice in understanding the factors that impact Black students in enrolling in AP courses. The findings highlight the need for schools to develop inclusive and supportive systems that support historically underrepresented students.

Pages

74

Recommended Citation

Jauregui, Juan Ramon Jr. (2026). Identifying Barriers to Black Student Participation in the Advanced Placement Program. University of the Pacific, Dissertation. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/4341