Addressing the achievement gap in the United States

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the achievement gap in the United States, disparity in academic performance between groups of students, evidence of the gap, major research into the causes of gaps in student achievement, factors contributing to the gap, ways of narrowing the gap, as well as education, policy, and economic implications, and inequality of educational opportunities for all. It describes the academic achievement gap that exists in America between Black and Hispanic students, at the lower end of the performance scale, and their White peers, and the similar academic disparity between students from low-income families and students from more wealthy families. It discusses the gap based on students' performance in elementary and secondary school with special emphasis on the subject areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and also on reading.