A Review of School-Based Interventions for Black Boys’ School Success

This systematic review examined core elements within school-based interventions and supports for Black adolescent males (12 to 18 years of age) and identified themes for research in this area. Several educational, psychology, and social science databases were searched systematically. From this search, 13 published studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed for detailed analysis. Our analysis of the literature on published findings for effective types of school-based interventions for Black boys revealed four overarching themes: (1) partnership with local school districts and schools, (2) utilization of family and community resources, (3) provision of educational opportunities for Black boys, and (4) encouragement of active engagement among Black boys through personal and cultural relevance to the boys’ lives. We discuss implications for future interventions targeting Black adolescent males. Finally, we propose a call for additional interventions for Black adolescent males and scientifically rigorous evaluation of those interventions.