Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Sociology

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Black Americans face numerous barriers to success, especially with regards to socioeconomic status, social capital, and education. Black American men, in particular, are at a disadvantage, as they are less likely to attend college when compared to Black American women. Research has unearthed various potential pathways to success, especially through private Catholic education and extracurricular activities, but the data on how such pathways can benefit Black American men specifically is limited. This dissertation seeks to unite the literature by studying St. Augustine High School—a predominately Black, all-male private Catholic high school in New Orleans, Louisiana. Specifically, I use a mixed-methods approach involving a survey questionnaire and in-depth interviews with alumni to explore the relationship between positive outcomes (education, occupation, job satisfaction, generalized trust, and happiness), the values instilled through extracurricular activity participation (racial pride, discipline, and brotherhood), and school engagement. Regression analyses on the data from the survey questionnaire show school engagement to be the only significant predictor for both a material outcome (education) and a psychological outcome (job satisfaction), while discipline is a significant predictor for all three of the psychological outcomes (job satisfaction, generalized trust, and happiness.) In-depth interviews revealed three key themes from alumni: reasons for attending St. Augustine High School, core values, and lasting school impact. Overall, while family background and socioeconomic status remain an important predictor of various positive outcomes, St. Augustine High School provides students with a more significant pathway to success through adult mentorship, discipline, and engagement. These findings are condensed into an upward mobility model for other education and policy leaders to use in their own programs.

Date

4-14-2026

Committee Chair

Frederick Weil

LSU Acknowledgement

1

LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment

1

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Available for download on Wednesday, March 23, 2033

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