ABSTRACT
The largest group making up the school system is students. Schools exist to socialize students into productive roles in the larger society. The chapter deals with a variety of aspects of the student role. Minority student enrollments are increasing in primary and secondary education in the United States. Students are caught between school, peer, and family expectations affecting student achievement. Student subcultures and friendship patterns can influence a student's self-concept and achievement in school, as can social class and gender. Some students fail. These are the students who are most at-risk to drop out of school. Home problems, pregnancy, second-language issues, gang affiliation, immigrant status, poverty, and feeling alienated from the school system can all lead to dropping out. Self-concept impacts a student's achievement. Low expectations in a school or classroom result in low achievement. Environments refer to influences outside the school that affect the student's role in the school. For instance, home environment has a major impact.
