Where the Most Low-Income Public School Students Live, By State

[eddiehaskell]

Originally Posted by grilba

MA has plenty of poverty. Because the cost of living is so high, a truly poor family may earn just above the poverty line and not be counted. The cost of living is lower in the South so people tend to earn below the official poverty line more often. The real difference? Massachusetts puts tons of money into their educational system and also has universal health care and generous safety nets for the poor. Really, it works-other places should try it some time.

But if we forget about where the line is between poor and not poor, it's clear that areas that are predominately black often struggle financially, socially, criminally, academically and in just about every other metric. It stands to reason that areas with more blacks/Hispanics (the South) will be more likely to have more people in poverty. It's harder to funnel as much money toward education if their are other serious issues to address (crime, poverty, housing etc).

[Malloric]

Originally Posted by Duderino

Sorry, but the 51% national rate is actually abysmal, considering that the overall US poverty rate is about 15%. This is extremely alarming, considering that children who are raised in poverty are much less likely to graduate, obtain good careers, and generally lead more financially-stable lives.

No state should be celebrating, but if I was a public administrator in the South or Southwest, I would be seriously concerned. Generally, though, if this is not reversed substantially, I honestly do not see a particularly bright future for the well-being of this country.

Not really.

It's rather alarming that 22% of those under 18 are living in poverty, but it's not really that incredible given that the poverty rate is 15%. The 51% low-income rate really has nothing to do with poverty.