- A study found that cortical grey matter was significantly greater in students with higher-income backgrounds when compared to students with lower-income backgrounds. 
- Cortical thickness was found to be greater across many lobes of the brain in students with higher-income backgrounds when compared to students with lower-income backgrounds
- Greater cortical thickness was found to be associated with better test performance. 


Correlations of cortical grey matter with the income achievement gap

Research suggests that certain differences in brain structure between students may correlate with differences in their economic statuses. 

Barnard College

Persistent and significant gaps in academic performance and/or educational attainment between high- and low-income students.

Income Achievement Gap

Mackey A. P., Finn A. S., Leonard J. A., Jacoby-Senghor D. S., West M. R., Gabrieli C. F. O., et al. . (2015). Neuroanatomical correlates of the income-achievement gap. Psychol. Sci. 26, 925–933. 10.1177/0956797615572233

Neuroanatomical correlates of the income achievement gap

According to one article, the already existing achievement gap between students from high and low-income families could be impacted by the current 2020 pandemic. It discusses the negative effects that both socioeconomic status and school closures have on the educational outcomes of students. Then it goes into detail about how the socioeconomic achievement gap could be made worse by the effect of the pandemic closing schools. 

Socioeconomic Achievement Gap During The Pandemic

The effects of poverty on academic achievement

Using student performance data gathered from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in the last 50 years, Hanushek et. al has observed that the achievement gap has failed to close. By plotting standard deviations observed between the 90th-10th percentiles and the 75th-25th percentiles in socioeconomic status, the following trends were observed:
- For both comparisons, the gap in achievement has remained relatively consistent. 
- When comparing free/reduced-price lunch students and students ineligible for free/reduced-price lunch, the gap in achievement has also remained relatively consistent.
- When factoring in ethnicity, the gap between African American and White students decreased.
- Students between the ages of 13 and 15 (8th grade) have made improvements in learning gains over the last 50 years, while students older than 17 (12th grade) have slowly made less gains over the same period.

Overall, Hanushek et. al posit that while achievement gaps in education has failed to close, the effect observed is closer to a relative Matthew Effect, rather than an absolute one.


Hanushek et. al - The Achievement Gap Fails to Close

Combining socioeconomic data from the Panel Study on Income Dynamics (PSID) and student achievement data from the Child Development Supplement (CDS), Owens finds that income disparities can exacerbate the achievement gap. In addition, families with low income face different outcomes based race and ethnicity. Using multilevel regression models, Owens comes to the following conclusions:
- The larger the income disparity between families, the larger the gap.
- Low-income white families are less affected by both income disparity and their own income when compared to African American families.
- The more homogenous a district is, the stronger the effect becomes.
- Homogeneity-inducing behaviors, whether intentional or unintentional (redlining, seeking better districts, "white flight"/self-segregation), is likely to translocate income disparities and gaps over to achievement gaps.

Income Segregation and Achievement Gap

 Income segregation creates very wealthy school districts and impoverished school districts, which can greatly impact future outcomes for students by impacting their levels of achievement. Owens argues in the reference paper that income segregation is a reason behind the achievement gap between low and high-income students.

The Impact of Income Segregation on the Achievement Gap

Of the many kinds of achievement gaps that exist in education, there is one in particular between high-income students and low-income students. It has been documented in past and recent studies that high-income students tend to do better than low-income students in education, from test results to completion of college. 

The Income Achievement Gap Between Students

Read the following scenario. Based on the details provided, analyze the key factors related to the students' family income levels that are likely to contribute to a significant difference in their academic achievements.

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