Narrowing the Achievement Gap in High Schools

Abstract

On one hand, the education gap is a predictor of unimpressive future market and non-market outcomes. On the other hand, low-income and minority citizens are more likely to fall behind their wealthier peers. This creates a vicious cycle of poor education caused by poverty, which in tern translates into next generation's poverty, and so on. Thus, eliminating the education gap should be a priority of the US government. This paper discussed numerous experimental programs and suggestions for future policy. Most of them either have a minor effect or affect a very small number of selfselected low-income students. The answer lies in improving the existing schools, not shipping students to alternative ones. [From Conclusion]