High Poverty Schools can be High Performing
High Poverty Schools can be High Performing
December 19, 2020
Public schools are responsible for educating
all students; however, in poor and minority communities, they often don’t succeed. Students in high-poverty schools face great challenges, most notably a severe lack of funding and resources compared to their wealthier counterparts. Because schools are funded through a combination of local, state, and federal funds, not every school allocates the same amount of spending to each student. Throughout the country, high poverty districts spend 15.6 percent less per student than wealthier districts, resulting in lower access to resources such as individual computers, guidance counselors, and teacher helpers. Furthermore, students living in poverty also experience physical and psychological stressors such as substandard environmental conditions, poor housing, and residential turnover. Additionally, students in high poverty schools are