Life
African-American and Hispanic High school students continue to fall behind
African American school children. PHOTO/NewsOne.com
While achievement levels have improved considerably for minority elementary and middle school students, studies show academic performance among high school age African Americans and Hispanics has fallen to levels not seen in thirty years.
How prevalent is the achievement gap at the high school level?
On average, math and reading skills for African-American and Latino high school seniors are at roughly the same level as 13-year-old white students, according to a November study put out by the Washington-based advocacy group Education Trust.
“We take kids that start high school a little behind and by the time they finish high school, they’re way behind,” says Amy Wilkins, vice president for government affairs and communications at Education Trust.
“Education is supposed to level the playing field,” adds Wilkins. “And it does the opposite…While many people are celebrating our postracial society, there is still a significant hangover in our schools.”
African-American and Latino students have made little to no progress in 12th-grade reading scores since 1994, according to the study, continuing to lag behind white students. Math achievement has also remained flat, with the gap between white students and those of color widening…
