Increasing Gifted Women’s Pursuit of STEM: Possible Role of NYC Selective Specialized Public High Schools

Abstract

This study examines female graduates (N = 616) from seven honors colleges in the Northeastern United States and the relationship between attending a New York City (NYC) selective specialized public high school and graduating with a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree from an honors college. A causal-comparative study design was applied. The study found a significant difference (p < .05) in choice of college major (STEM vs non-STEM) between participants who graduated from a NYC selective specialized public high school and those who graduated from any other high school. These results support a positive relationship for female students between attending a NYC selective specialized public high school and graduating from an honors college with a degree in STEM. The implications of providing an appropriately challenging education for gifted female students are discussed.