While racial achievement gaps are in decline, income-based gaps remain the same or widen. Over the past fifteen years national studies show that hispanic-white, and black-white achievements have been in steady decline since 2003. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), recorded drops between 13-25% measuring fourth and eight graders over the last 15 years. While the decrease in racial disparities are encouraging, these studies also reveal troubling information about the importance of income as it pertains to achievement.
Observing low-income students through the “free and reduced price lunch” (FRPL) metric, gaps have barely budged in achievement compared to their high-income peers. The FRPL metric is useful in isolating a race-blind demographic that likely comprises of the lowest-income students. While these metrics separate race and income, the two statistics are inextricable linked. The average white household has almost ten times the wealth of a black household. While the Great Recession in 2008 shrunk the racial wealth disparity for low income houses, (49% decrease for white homes, 2-3% for black/hispanic households), it was only the high income homes that lost the least and rebounded the most. While the majority of the country, comprised of low and middle-income households have seen a trend of equalization of achievement on racial lines, their strides are overshadowed by the 40% increase in income-based achievement. Now, the achievement gap between students in the 10th percentile compared to those in the 90th percentile has increased by more than 50%, making it a larger than any racial gap. While these numbers are staggering, they represent the disparity between the upper half and the lower half. The 50th percentile compared to the 10th is not expanding, it remains stagnant.
Much of this disparity is reflected by how much wealthy parents can spend on their child’s education. The after-school classes, the early learning programs, and summer camps give the wealthier students a leg up in the classroom. Parental engagement cannot be understated either, but it is clear that the resources available for education make a significant difference. Supplemental educational initiatives disproportionately augment wealthy students’ educational progress. Due to cost and selectivity, many of these programs are unavailable for low income students. So regardless of the parental engagement and focus on academics, the low income students are inherently disadvantaged in non-school activities that would foster higher achievement. This disadvantage follows these low income students until graduation, as students in the bottom 50% have a sub-5% chance of attending in a highly selective college.
College admissions also pose a unique threat to low-income students. Aside from absurdly high costs, there is a significant gap in access to information. High income families, likely with generational wealth and higher education, have special insight into the college process and often groom their children to be college ready from a young age. Enrolling in specialized sports and activities, hiring private tutors, and bringing their children to cultural events are all ways in which wealthier families get a leg up.
