On Closer Inspection

Yesterday I reported on CPS and national ACT test scores for 2011.  When one takes a closer look at the data for the inner city, Hispanics and African Americans one sees a pattern.

CPS scores (inner city which is largely devoid of affluent students) and those of African Americans and Hispanics are strikingly similar.  Why is that?  The answer isn't simply and that's because there are many reasons for the scores lagging behind the rest of America.

Poverty has much to do with this scenario.  When people are without funds they can't buy the nutritional food, better housing, needed school supplies and decent clothing (school uniforms and winter coats for example) that have a real effect on how one performs in school.

Sadly, many inner city, Hispanic and African American families find themselves without jobs which further adds to the above poverty.  Often the poor housing situation may be in an area that has much too much crime.  These areas have shuttered factories, store front and litter abounds.  Such areas of blight are not optimum environments relative to a student doing well in school.

All of the above factors create an environment in which a degree of hopelessness sets in.  I have people tell me 'they just have to pick themselves up by the bootstraps.'  Well, therein lies the problem...many of the inner city, Hispanic and African Americans (by the way there are plenty of Whites who live in poverty who are in the same situation) don't have the bootstraps to start with!!!!

Test scores are not simply about whether a child is bright or not.  ACT scores do not fully correlate merely to the effectiveness of a school.  No, much more goes into the formation of how a child performs on a test, ACT or otherwise.

Thanks,
Dick