Socioeconomic status explains most of the racial and ethnic achievement gaps in elementary school

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Eric Hengyu Hu, University at Albany, State University of New York and Paul L. Morgan, University at Albany, State University of New York

(THE CONVERSATION) For decades, white students have performed significantly better than Black and Hispanic students on tests of academic achievement. Explanations for these achievement gaps include poverty and systems that result in discrimination. Others cite struggles to learn English. And some folks believe that some groups simply don’t value education.

Our new report shows that gaps in achievement between white, Black and Hispanic students in elementary school are primarily explained by differences in family socioeconomic status. That is, kindergartners from families with similar economic resources and educational backgrounds – among other factors – later displayed similar levels of...