Praxis School Counselor (5422) Practice Exam

Which of the following pieces of data would be most helpful in identifying an opportunity gap?

1. Percentage of low-socioeconomic students in the school

2. Percentage of minority students taking honors-level courses

3. Number of students with excessive absences

4. Number of students performing below academic reading standards

The correct answer is: Percentage of minority students taking honors-level courses

An opportunity gap refers to disparities in access and resources that hinder certain groups of students from achieving academic success. Therefore, out of the given options, the piece of data that would be most helpful in identifying an opportunity gap would be the percentage of minority students taking honors-level courses, as it can indicate whether these students have equal access to advanced academic opportunities as their non-minority peers. The other options may contribute to identifying potential barriers or challenges that students may face, but do not directly address the issue of opportunity gaps for specific groups of students. For example, the percentage of low-socioeconomic students in the school may provide insight into the overall economic diversity of the school, but does not necessarily reflect on how this impacts academic opportunities for different groups. Similarly, the number of students with excessive absences may point to potential attendance issues, but does not directly address any inequalities in access to resources. Lastly, the number of students performing below academic reading standards may highlight academic challenges, but does not specifically address opportunity gaps for specific groups of students. Therefore, the best answer is B.