Choosing “university” level courses in high school opens doors to every level of postsecondary education, write Kelly Gallagher-Mackay (Wilfrid Laurier University), Carl E James (York University), Christine Corso (University of Toronto), Gillian Parekh (YorkU), and Robert S Brown (YorkU). The authors conducted a study using data from the Toronto District School Board to better understand student pathways through high school “U” (university) or “C” (college) courses to postsecondary. The authors found that participation in at least one “U” course was strongly associated with applying to any type of postsecondary education. They noted that course choices in high school lead to long-term outcomes, which can either expand or limit postsecondary opportunities and contribute to lifetime inequalities.
