A study was conducted of how children's expectations for their own school performance develop over their first-grade year and what factors influence these expectations. Expectations for performance in reading and arithmetic were studied. Both middle class and lower class (black and white) children have higher expectations than their subsequent…

In an effort to understand the schooling process, a longitudinal study was conducted of children enrolled in three elementary schools. Children entering first grade in a middle class white school, an integrated lower class school, and an all-black lower class school were followed to the end of third grade. This final report of the study presents…