Bridging the Achievement Gap

The achievement gap between white students and African American and Hispanic students in the US has been debated by scholars and lamented by policymakers since it was first documented in 1966. The average black or Hispanic secondary school student currently achieves at about the same level as the average white student in the lowest quartile of white achievement. Black and Hispanic students are much less likely than white students to graduate from high school, acquire a college or advanced degree or earn a middle-class living. They are also much more likely than whites to suffer social problems that often accompany low income. The situation may finally be changing. This book provides evidence that the achievement gap can be bridged. A variety of schools and school reforms are boosting the achievement of black and Hispanic students to levels nearing those of whites.