The term “achievement gap” refers to significant disparity in academic performance between different groups of students. Minority and low income students have demonstrated an education gap in the classroom due to a lack of equal access to quality education.

The achievement gap has been demonstrated in lower reading and math scores on standardized tests, lower high school graduation rates, lower college acceptance and readiness rates in Black and Latino students when compared to their White classmates.

Factors that contribute to the achievement gap can include: lack of a rigorous curriculum, large class sizes, low expectations for student achievement, household’s income level, access to health and social services, access to after-school programs, and community safety.

While Massachusetts has the highest performing school districts in the nation, we also have schools with some of the worst literacy rates in the country. Low performing schools are almost always found in low income districts.

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"The fact remains that 25 years after the Massachusetts Education Reform Act, Black, Latino, and low-income students continue to have dramatically different experiences in
Massachusetts schools than their White and higher-income peers — and these disparities have real consequences for students, their communities, and our Commonwealth’s economy and democracy."  Find out more by reading the Number 1 for Some Report here.

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