The first time participants complete a survey, they can choose to identify with one or more of 18 different race-ethnicity groups (shown below).
However, results in Reports are not broken out by those fine-grained categories because that level of disaggregation would make it impossible to maintain the confidentiality of participants’ responses. (To maintain participants’ privacy, the Reports only show results for a given group when that group has at least five members. That means, for example, that Reports could not show results from Latinx participants if fewer than five completed the survey or identified as Latinx.
As a compromise between the need to maintain participant confidentiality and the desire to provide disaggregated data about opportunity gaps, Reports display results separately for members of racial and ethnic groups that are structurally disadvantaged within the U.S. education system (according to national education statistics on college access). Participants are considered members of a group that is structurally disadvantaged in education if they identify with one or more of the following groups: Black, Latinx, Native American, or Pacific Islander. Reports contrast their experiences to those of White and Asian students (who are comparatively advantaged in education settings according to the same national statistics).
This compromise enables educators to get some insight into opportunity gaps while simultaneously protecting participant confidentiality. In order to support more fine-grained analysis, Catalyze and Elevate also enable educators to create a custom Focal Group that more accurately represents the groups of individuals in their local context who are situated farthest from opportunity.
