God, Grades, and Graduation: Religion's Surprising Impact on Academic Success

A religious upbringing can significantly impact the academic lives of teens, influencing their educational pathways from high school to college. According to Dr. Ilana M. Horwitz's research, approximately one out of every four students in American schools are raised with religious restraint, which alters how they see themselves and how they behave. This book explores the reasons why these students achieve higher grades, are more likely to graduate from college, and benefit from religious restraint, particularly boys from lower middle-class families. It also highlights how religious restraint recalibrates academic ambitions for middle-upper class kids and girls, leading them to question the value of attending a selective college.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

It is widely recognized that American parents from diverse class backgrounds adopt distinct approaches to nurturing their children. Upper and middle-class parents allocate substantial time to facilitate their children's activities, whereas working-class and low-income families adopt a more hands-off approach. These varying strategies shape how children perceive and approach education. However, a significant aspect that often goes overlooked in the discourse is the fact that millions of parents, irrespective of their social class, are raising their children with the intention of instilling a belief in God. What impact does a religious upbringing have on the academic trajectories of these teenagers?

Drawing on a comprehensive dataset spanning 10 years and encompassing over 3,000 teenagers and over 200 in-depth interviews, God, Grades, and Graduation provides a revealing and, at times, unexpected exploration of how the religious upbringing of teenagers impacts their educational journeys from high school to college. According to Dr. Ilana M. Horwitz, an estimated one out of every four students in American schools is raised with religious restraint. These students integrate their lives so profoundly with God that it profoundly alters their self-perception and behavior, both within and outside of religious contexts.

This book takes readers on a journey into the lives of these teenagers, shedding light on the factors that contribute to their higher academic achievements, increased likelihood of graduating from college, and particularly beneficial effects observed among boys from lower middle-class families. It also delves into how religious restraint recalibrates the academic aspirations of middle-upper-class kids, particularly for girls, after graduation, prompting them to question the value of attending a selective college despite their impressive high school grades. By illuminating the far-reaching effects of a religious upbringing, this book offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between faith, education, and societal expectations.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 166 x 241 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197534144