Family and Child Influences on Educational Attainment: A Secondary Analysis of the High/Scope Perry Preschool Data

The central question addressed in this study was, What factors contribute to individual differences in the educational attainment of African American young adults from families of low socioeconomic status? A secondary analysis of the Perry Preschool data set was conducted. Unlike earlier studies that focused on the effects of preschool on the Perry participants, this study focused on the influence of family and child characteristics on educational attainment. Results showed that characteristics of the participants at the time of school entry were predictive of the participants' achievement and, ultimately, their educational attainment. Family processes were also related to the participants' achievement, attainment, and study habits. Educational attainment was related to income, occupational prestige, and employment history at age 27.