LOST TALENT - UNREALIZED EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS AMONG UNITED-STATES YOUTHS

This study used data from High School and Beyond to explore lost talen t among U.S. youths in the late high school and post-high school years and the extent to which it varies by gender, race, and class. Lost ta lent occurs when students who show signs of early talent (1) have educ ational expectations that fall short of their aspirations, (2) have re duced expectations over time, or (3) are not able to realize their ear lier expectations. The study found that the loss of talent through mis matched aspirations and expectations and especially through reduced ex pectations was considerable: 16 percent of the youths had expectations that were lower than their aspirations, and 27 percent had reduced ex pectations in the period under question. Of the three characteristics, class had the largest and most consistent effect on lost talent; memb ership in a lower socioeconomic group sometimes doubled the risk of th e loss of talent.