In a high school, the norms act to hold down the achievements of those who are above average, so that the school's demands will be at a level easily maintained by the majority.
James S. ColemanThe higher the social class of other students the higher any given student's achievement.
James S. ColemanChildren from a given family background, when put in schools of different social compositions, will achieve at quite different levels.
James S. ColemanIt is one thing to take as a given that approximately 70 percent of an entering high school freshman class will not attend college, but to assign a particular child to a curriculum designed for that 70 percent closes off for that child the opportunity to attend college.
James S. Coleman