alongside the conventionally educated

Dear teachers,

Could someone explain the meaning of the following sentence for me?

In terms of academic achievement, however, homeschooled children do just as well as those who have been in the classroom, and many walk the campuses of Harvard and Stanford alongside the conventionally educated.

I wondered
--if "walk" should goes with "alongside"?
--and what does this sentence mean?

Thanks:)

Emily

[maeve o'cuinn]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Dear teachers,

Could someone explain the meaning of the following sentence for me?

In terms of academic achievement, however, homeschooled children do just as well as those who have been in the classroom, and many walk the campuses of Harvard and Stanford alongside the conventionally educated.

I wondered
--if "walk" should goes with "alongside"?
--and what does this sentence mean?

Thanks:)

Emily

Hi Emily!

Alongside in this sentence means "together with" "besides" >>> Here the verb "to walk" and "alongside" are not related. What this sentence means
is that home-schooled kids and conventionally educated ones are able to do the same things, no difference. And the image of walking along the campus is kind of metaphoric, meaning that both groups have the same education skills.

Hope this helps!! Maeve O'Cuinn