[kidyankee764]

"...60 percent of low-income students graduated from high school in 2009 compared with 86 percent of more affluent students."

Can't say I'm surprised. IMO, I think it's getting worse and don't see this changing for the better anytime soon.


Group: State Has Largest Achievement Gap - Connecticut News Story - WFSB Hartford

[JayCT]

Not surprising since our cities are small and poor and the suburbs are super-wealthy. Creates a large gap. Jay

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Not surprising since our cities are small and poor and the suburbs are super-wealthy. Creates a large gap. Jay

Unlike many other parts of America, cities in the Northeast, especially in upstate NY and New England, tend to be small in area, covering the "urban" portion, with suburbs being a clutter of smaller towns. In many other regions, the city boundaries include many areas that would be "suburban towns" with separate school districts in the Northeast . A couple of places that comes to my mind like this are Indianapolis and Charlotte, NC; though the biggest such extreme is Jacksonville, FL; the "city" encompasses over 900 square miles (to put in perspective about the physical size of Fairfield County) and even includes some rural areas with a couple of towns on the beach being independent "suburbs".

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

Unlike many other parts of America, cities in the Northeast, especially in upstate NY and New England, tend to be small in area, covering the "urban" portion, with suburbs being a clutter of smaller towns. In many other regions, the city boundaries include many areas that would be "suburban towns" with separate school districts in the Northeast . A couple of places that comes to my mind like this are Indianapolis and Charlotte, NC; though the biggest such extreme is Jacksonville, FL; the "city" encompasses over 900 square miles (to put in perspective about the physical size of Fairfield County) and even includes some rural areas with a couple of towns on the beach being independent "suburbs".

This is very true. That said, CT has among the widest, if not the widest, wealth gap in the nation as well - regardless of city boundaries.

[JViello]

Makes one (Okay this one) wonder if there is a correlation between "achievment" and "wealthy" and I don't mean one gets the other but a mindset within the family structure of competition, success and discipline that makes the difference.

Well I'm pretty sure there is but that's one man's opinion.

[renovating]

Originally Posted by JViello

but a mindset within the family structure of competition, success and discipline that makes the difference.

And the value the childs "community" or "village" places on education is also a factor.

[renovating]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Not surprising since our cities are small and poor and the suburbs are super-wealthy. Creates a large gap. Jay

Correct...our top performing schools do create a larger gap.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by renovating

Correct...our top performing schools do create a larger gap.

This article doesn't measure school district vs district. It measures and compares by family income/individual affluence.

Even if it did compare districts, our middle of the road schools still boast a high graduation rate.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

This article doesn't measure school district vs district. It measures and compares by family income/individual affluence.

And I think contrary to popular thinking, those with "affluence" in CT generally attained it by a certain work ethic and core belief system which is why I say the best thing we can do for the "inner cities" is to empower their attitude and outlook and not their wallet.

[Tin Knocker]

Originally Posted by JViello

And I think contrary to popular thinking, those with "affluence" in CT generally attained it by a certain work ethic and core belief system which is why I say the best thing we can do for the "inner cities" is to empower their attitude and outlook and not their wallet.

Yup. The biggest reason for failure is a lack of drive for sucess.