The Racial Academic Achievement Gap

Closing the racial academic achievement gap is a problem that must be solved in order for future society to properly function. Minorities including African-American and Latino students ’ standardized test scores are much lower than white students. By the end of fourth grade, African American, Latino, and poor students of all races are two years behind their wealthier, predominantly white peers in reading and math. By eighth grade, they have slipped three years behind, and by twelfth grade, four years behind (Columbia University, 2005). Students ’ socioeconomic backgrounds and teachers ’ racial expectations are two factors that contribute to the academic achievement gap. In order to close the gap, there must be equivalent standards and expectations for high and low achieving schools, as well as regular evaluation of instruction. Creating rigorous curricula for all students and helping students catch up by offering “tried and true” intervention programs will assist in the closure of American’s racial academic achievement gap