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Who Lives in a STEM Desert?

Author

Listed:
  • Holzman, Brian
  • Lewis, Bethany
  • Zhao, Jinhua
  • Ma, Hao

Abstract

STEM deserts, similar to education deserts, are rural, suburban, and urban areas where students have limited access to school-based STEM curriculum and coursework opportunities. Using administrative data from the Houston Independent School District following a state policy change to high-school graduation requirements, this study develops measures of STEM deserts and identifies the students most likely to live in them. Findings reveal that Black and Asian/Pacific Islander students, students from non-English-speaking households, and those from lower-socioeconomic neighborhoods are disproportionately likely to live in STEM deserts compared to White students, students from English-speaking households, and those from higher-socioeconomic neighborhoods.

Suggested Citation

  • Holzman, Brian & Lewis, Bethany & Zhao, Jinhua & Ma, Hao, 2025. "Who Lives in a STEM Desert?," SocArXiv s8wzv_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:s8wzv_v1
    DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/s8wzv_v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tuomo Suhonen, 2014. "Field-of-Study Choice in Higher Education: Does Distance Matter?," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(4), pages 355-375, October.
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