Advanced Math

Advanced Math measures the share of high school students who are enrolled in advanced mathematics courses. These courses include trigonometry, analytic geometry, math analysis, probability and statistics, and precalculus. In 2015, approximately 17% of eligible students were enrolled in such courses, or about 13,094 students across the four-county region.

Advanced Math Indicator Scores

City of
St. Louis

74

St. Louis
County

65

St. Charles
County

48

St. Clair
County

26

Data Source: Civil Rights Data Collection, U.S. Department of Education, 2015

What does this score mean?

A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in the outcomes between black and white populations. The lower the Equity Score, the greater the disparity.

For Advanced Math, a score of 100 – a score reflecting racial equity – would mean black and white students are equally likely to be enrolled in advanced math classes. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal; we also want to improve outcomes for all.

WHAT DOES THIS ANALYSIS MEAN?

White students in the region are 53% more likely than black students to be enrolled in advanced mathematics courses in high school. In St. Clair County, white students are over four times more likely to be in advanced math (13.6%) when compared to black students (3.3%). In St. Charles County, white students are nearly two times as likely to be in advanced math (18.4%) when compared to black students (10.2%). White students are about 41% more likely to be in advanced math than black students in St. Louis County (20.8% relative to 14.8%), and in the City of St. Louis, they are 23% more likely (17.4% relative to 14.2%).

If access were equitable, the number of black students enrolled in advanced math classes would be increased by:

  • 176 in the City of St. Louis,
  • 121 in St. Charles County,
  • 471 in St. Clair County, and
  • 879 in St. Louis County.

Why Does Advanced Math Matter?

Mathematics literacy is an increasingly important skill in a digitized and computerized economy, especially among STEM fields and other occupations, such as finance, social sciences, and risk-analysis. However, it is known that Black and Latino students on average graduate high school with the math skills of the average white eighth-grade student. As occupations in these fields remain more lucrative and become more prevalent in the economy, it is ever more important to encourage historically under-represented students in rigorous courses, especially in math.

    WHICH CALLS TO ACTION FROM THE FERGUSON COMMISSION’s REPORT ARE LINKED WITH THIS INDICATOR?

    The Ferguson Commission made the following calls to action related to quality, rigorous public education:

    Questions for Further Investigation:

    • Why is there a racial disparity in Advanced Math?
    • What can St. Louis do to reduce racial disparities in Advanced Math?
    • What initiatives are currently underway to reduce racial disparities in Advanced Math?

    How can I learn more about this issue?

    Since 2015, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has developed Educator Equity Plans, which report on the racial disparities in math and other subjects.

    Advanced Math Data

    Students enrolled in advanced mathematics

     AllBlackWhiteDisparity RatioEquity Score
    Students Enrolled in Advanced Mathematics
    		1,018769155
    Total Enrollment in Secondary Schools
    		6,9255,430890
    Percent of Students
    		14.70%14.20%17.40%1.225 to 174

    Data Source: Civil Rights Data Collection, 2015

    Students enrolled in advanced mathematics

     AllBlackWhiteDisparity RatioEquity Score
    Students Enrolled in Advanced Mathematics
    		7,8002,1894,680
    Total Enrollment in Secondary Schools
    		41,61414,75022,476
    Percent of Students
    		18.74%14.80%20.80%1.405 to 165

    Data Source: Civil Rights Data Collection, 2015

    Students enrolled in advanced mathematics

     AllBlackWhiteDisparity RatioEquity Score
    Students Enrolled in Advanced Mathematics
    		3,2731522,875
    Total Enrollment in Secondary Schools
    		18,5491,48515,656
    Percent of Students
    		17.65%10.20%18.40%1.803 to 148

    Data Source: Civil Rights Data Collection, 2015

    Students enrolled in advanced mathematics

     AllBlackWhiteDisparity RatioEquity Score
    Students Enrolled in Advanced Mathematics
    		1,003150748
    Total Enrollment in Secondary Schools
    		10,9524,5655,514
    Percent of Students
    		9.16%3.30%13.60%4.121 to 126

    Data Source: Civil Rights Data Collection, 2015

    Return to Youth at the Center