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This study identified parental practices that relate positively to high school students' academic performance. Parents of 643 high school students participated in the study. Data analysis, using a multiple linear regression model, shows parent-school connection, student gender, and race are significant predictors of student academic performance. In particular, aspects of parental involvement were found to vary significantly by student race; the study reveals a parallel racial gap in aspects of parental involvement and student performance. Results indicate, therefore, that efforts to close the racial gap in student achievement should pay equal attention to the racial gap in parental involvement practices. (Contains 3 tables.)