Low-Income Students Have Lower Graduation Rates

By | on Apr 21, 2014 | 0 Comment

Low-Income Students Have Lower Graduation Rates

By Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D.

Low-income students have a lower graduation rates than their middle and higher-income classmates. This a trend that occurs in school districts and states across the country. This is evident even in states with some of the highest school graduation rates.

Massachusetts, for example, has one of the highest high school graduation rates in the United States, but low-income students throughout the state lag disproportionality behind.

According to a report released by the America's Promise Foundation, the state ranks in the top tier of school districts in the United States with 85 percent of students graduating in 2012. But, only about 66 percent of low-income students received diplomas that year.

Low-income students have lower graduation rates. Photo Credit: gsvcap.com

Low-income students have lower graduation rates. Photo Credit: gsvcap.com

While Hispanic and black students graduated at higher levels in Massachusetts and nationally, they are still far behind white students.  Two-thirds of all students graduated Boston schools.

Since 2010, state education officials say they have invested in professional development that focuses on the transition to high school for English language learners, which would include Hispanic and other immigrant children, increasing cultural competency and serving special education students.

Similar disparities were reported in other states, most notably Hawaii, Indiana and Texas.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this article.

Feature Photo Credit: usnews.com

Tags:

Author Description

No Responses to “Low-Income Students Have Lower Graduation Rates”

You must be logged in to post a comment.