Who Benefits from SAT Prep?: An Examination of High School Context and Race/Ethnicity

We examine how high school resources are linked to participation in forms of SAT prep; we also examine the impact of SAT prep on SAT scores and how it varies for students of different races. Students with more highly educated parents, more financial resources, and who attend schools with higher participation in AP courses are more likely to take more elite forms of test prep and obtain higher scores. However, not all students benefit equally from SAT prep; gains associated with SAT prep appear to be driven by East Asian American participation in private courses. Implications for equity are discussed.