- The relationship between school-level racial composition and achievement levels and racial/ethnic differences in academic outcomes is mediated through the racial heterogeneity and average GPA of students’ best friend
- The achievement level of students’ best friends have significantly positive effects on the academic outcomes of students of all races/ethnicities
- African American and Hispanic students benefit more than Whites from a diverse racial composition in their friendship network.
- A racially diverse friendship network affects white students negatively, while having a significantly positive effect on AA and Hispanic students. These effects are either largely diminished or become insignificant with the addition of the average GPA of best friends, which affects academic outcomes positively; and this effect remains significantly positive even after all school and individual-level factors are taken into account.
- Interracial friendships are especially important for minority students. Minority students tend to benefit indirectly from attending racially diverse schools: diverse school settings offer minority students access to social networks that are especially important for their academic outcomes.