Patterns and Trends in Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Academic Achievement Gaps

Author/s: 

Sean F. Reardon

,

Joseph P. Robinson

,

Ericka S. Weathers

Year of Publication: 
Forthcoming
Editor/s: 
In H. A. Ladd & E. B. Fiske (Eds.)
Publication: 
Handbook of Research in Education Finance and Policy (Second ed.)
Publisher: 
Lawrence Erlbaum

Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in academic achievement remain a stubborn feature of U.S. schooling. National studies consistently show that the average non-Hispanic black student scores well below the average non-Hispanic white student on standardized tests of math and reading skills, as does the average Hispanic student. Likewise, the average student from a low-income family scores much lower on such tests than students from higher-income families. Considerable attention has been focused on achievement gaps, particularly the black-white achievement gap. Scholars and educators have suggested a number of possible explanations for the gaps, and policymakers, principals, and teachers have tried a range of remedies. As this chapter documents, however, the gaps persist despite these efforts. Moreover, our understanding of the causes and patterns of these achievement gaps is far from complete.

Primary Research Area:

Education Level:

APA Citation

Reardon, S.F., Robinson, J.P., & Weathers, E.S. (Forthcoming). Patterns and Trends in Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Academic Achievement Gaps. In H. A. Ladd & E. B. Fiske (Eds.), Handbook of Research in Education Finance and Policy (Second ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum.

Media Mentions