School engagement is a multifaceted psychosocial process that functions as a key mediator of academic achievement, motivation, and school dropout. This study investigated the effects of vocational exploration and racial identity on behavioral (attendance, attention, time spent on class work) and psychological (identification with school) factors of school engagement among urban youth of color (N = 197). Hierarchical multiple regression and criterion-pattern analysis revealed a predictive profile marked by high levels of positive racial internalization and career planning combined with low levels of racial dissonance. The study's limitations, directions for research, and implications for practice are discussed.
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