The Growing Achievement Gap

KIDS ARRIVE AT SCHOOL with large achievement gaps between rich and poor, and that achievement gap grows over the summer. Now two new studies show that the summer learning gap between the lower and middle classes may be narrowing while the rich surge ahead of everyone.

A May 22, 2018 report from the National Center for Education Statistics tracked more than 18,000 kids who attended kindergarten in 2010-11 and followed up with their parents in the fall of 2011 to see how they spent their summer. It's a nationally representative group, expressly selected to mimic the actual racial, ethnic, income and geographic diversity of the country.

[READ:Commentary: Here’s Why the United States Is So Bad at Math ]

By many measures, poor kids participated in fewer educationally enriching activities over the summer than middle class and wealthy kids. Only 7 percent of poor kids and 13 percent of "near" poor kids (families of four living on an income of $22,000 to $44,000 a year) went to summer camp. Roughly 40 percent of non-poor kids – middle class and wealthy – attended summer camp. The poor were less likely to go on cultural outings. For example, only 32 percent of poor kids and 44 percent of "near" poor kids went to an art gallery, a museum or a historical site over the summer. Almost two-thirds, or 63 percent of non-poor kids, did. Only 15 percent of poor kids attended a concert or a play. One third of non-poor kids did.

More than half of rich and middle-class parents said they read to their children every day during the summer. Fewer than 40 percent of poor kids' parents did so.

But there were surprises too. A larger subset of poor families than non-poor families said they had their children work on math and writing activities every day. For example, one fourth of poor families said they engaged in writing activities with their kids each day. Only 12 percent of non-poor families did this.

A couple pieces of egalitarian news: three quarters of kids played outside every day, regardless of household income. And one-third of kindergarten graduates of all income levels looked at or read books every day.

KIDS ARRIVE AT SCHOOL with large achievement gaps between rich and poor, and that achievement gap grows over the summer. Now two new studies show that the summer learning gap between the lower and middle classes may be narrowing while the rich surge ahead of everyone.

A May 22, 2018 report from the National Center for Education Statistics tracked more than 18,000 kids who attended kindergarten in 2010-11 and followed up with their parents in the fall of 2011 to see how they spent their summer. It's a nationally representative group, expressly selected to mimic the actual racial, ethnic, income and geographic diversity of the country.

[
READ:
Commentary: Here’s Why the United States Is So Bad at Math ]

By many measures, poor kids participated in fewer educationally enriching activities over the summer than middle class and wealthy kids. Only 7 percent of poor kids and 13 percent of "near" poor kids (families of four living on an income of $22,000 to $44,000 a year) went to summer camp. Roughly 40 percent of non-poor kids – middle class and wealthy – attended summer camp. The poor were less likely to go on cultural outings. For example, only 32 percent of poor kids and 44 percent of "near" poor kids went to an art gallery, a museum or a historical site over the summer. Almost two-thirds, or 63 percent of non-poor kids, did. Only 15 percent of poor kids attended a concert or a play. One third of non-poor kids did.

More than half of rich and middle-class parents said they read to their children every day during the summer. Fewer than 40 percent of poor kids' parents did so.

But there were surprises too. A larger subset of poor families than non-poor families said they had their children work on math and writing activities every day. For example, one fourth of poor families said they engaged in writing activities with their kids each day. Only 12 percent of non-poor families did this.

A couple pieces of egalitarian news: three quarters of kids played outside every day, regardless of household income. And one-third of kindergarten graduates of all income levels looked at or read books every day.

KIDS ARRIVE AT SCHOOL with large achievement gaps between rich and poor, and that achievement gap grows over the summer. Now two new studies show that the summer learning gap between the lower and middle classes may be narrowing while the rich surge ahead of everyone.

A May 22, 2018 report from the National Center for Education Statistics tracked more than 18,000 kids who attended kindergarten in 2010-11 and followed up with their parents in the fall of 2011 to see how they spent their summer. It's a nationally representative group, expressly selected to mimic the actual racial, ethnic, income and geographic diversity of the country.

[
READ:
Commentary: Here’s Why the United States Is So Bad at Math ]

By many measures, poor kids participated in fewer educationally enriching activities over the summer than middle class and wealthy kids. Only 7 percent of poor kids and 13 percent of "near" poor kids (families of four living on an income of $22,000 to $44,000 a year) went to summer camp. Roughly 40 percent of non-poor kids – middle class and wealthy – attended summer camp. The poor were less likely to go on cultural outings. For example, only 32 percent of poor kids and 44 percent of "near" poor kids went to an art gallery, a museum or a historical site over the summer. Almost two-thirds, or 63 percent of non-poor kids, did. Only 15 percent of poor kids attended a concert or a play. One third of non-poor kids did.

More than half of rich and middle-class parents said they read to their children every day during the summer. Fewer than 40 percent of poor kids' parents did so.

But there were surprises too. A larger subset of poor families than non-poor families said they had their children work on math and writing activities every day. For example, one fourth of poor families said they engaged in writing activities with their kids each day. Only 12 percent of non-poor families did this.

A couple pieces of egalitarian news: three quarters of kids played outside every day, regardless of household income. And one-third of kindergarten graduates of all income levels looked at or read books every day.