Through COVID: The Lived Experiences of High School Students of Color Returning to In-Person Schooling

ABSTRACT: This case study investigates the experiences of high school students of color as they return to in-person schooling during the 2021–22 school year amid COVID-19, aiming to fill the gap in literature on students’ returning processes. By conducting multiple in-depth interviews with student participants, we incorporate youth voices that are largely missing in existing research. Using the concept of situated agency , we showcase the two sides of these students’ experiences: The nuanced challenges they faced because of their intersecting marginalizing identities and their strong resilience and agency as they navigate their return to school. The findings underscore the need for educational policies and practices that are sensitive to the complexities of student experiences, advocating for supports that recognize and address the diverse challenges faced by students of color in the pandemic’s aftermath and prepare for similar school interruptions in the future.