How do peer relationships in high school affect college enrollment?

..Research has long shown that peers can have a significant influence on individual student behaviors. Peer influence can result in outcomes both positive (increased school performance) and negative (increased delinquency). In fact, the influence of peers has been identified as particularly important for low-achieving students, who can improve when they have a network of higher-achieving friends. Peers may have an immediate influence on individual behavior, but they can also affect long-term behavior that has implications for students deciding whether to attend college or other postsecondary education programs…

The Bottom Line

High school graduates are significantly more likely to go on to postsecondary education and college if their peers support them and have similar plans for higher education. These effects are particularly strong for black and Hispanic youth with a low socioeconomic status.

To read the complete article, please go to:
http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.bf94f2521501fd98dd1b2110d3108a0c/