What Is The Achievement Gap?

When researchers, reformers, and educators examine how students perform in our public schools, they consistently find two factors that significantly impact achievement: economic circumstances and racial/ethnic backgrounds.

The results of their research reveal the dramatic impact these two factors have on student achievement.

For example -

  • By 4th grade, African-American and Latino students are, on average, nearly three academic years behind their white peers.
  • Only 10% of students at Tier 1 colleges (146 most selective) come from the bottom half of the income distribution.
  • Barely half of African-American and Latino students graduate from high school, with African American students graduating at 51%, Latinos at 55%, and their white counterparts at 76%.
  • The average student eligible for free/reduced lunch is approximately two years of learning behind the average ineligible student.

The huge difference in academic performance between students from different economic circumstances and racial/ethnic backgrounds is what we call the achievement gap.

Why the Achievement Gap Matters

Poor academic performance has a direct and serious impact on a student's adult life. Dropouts are more likely to become and stay jobless, will enjoy dramatically lower lifetime earnings, and are far more likely to be unemployed and incarcerated.

For example-

  • High school graduates live up to 7 years longer than high school dropouts.
  • Census Bureau estimates suggest that in terms of today’s dollars, college graduates will earn an average of about $2.5 million, or about $1 million more over their working lives than high school graduates.
  • Roughly one in 10 young male high school dropouts is in jail or juvenile detention. Roughly one in 35 young male high school graduates is in jail or juvenile detention.

The achievement gap is not some irrelevant statistic, it is proof that our public education system is consistently failing our children and drastically reducing their chances to compete and succeed as adults.

Visit Get the Facts for additional achievement gap facts and complete source information.