Poverty and Students Sucess

In all four of the graphs comparing fourth grade and eight grade math and reading scores there is a direct relationship between the students grades and whether or not they receive free or reduces lunches. You could conclude by looking at the graphs that the poverty of the family of the student directly affects the student’s ability to learn and succeed in school. Eligibility for the free or reduced lunch program is based on the family’s income.

The lack of success of the student could be based off a couple different factors. The student may feel that just because they come from a lower class family that they are automatically doomed. They feel that no matter what they can’t change their future and make better lives for themselves than their parents provided for them. Another reason may be that the student may be hungry. For a lot of poor families, the meals that their children receive at school may be the largest or even only meal that that child receives all day. I definitely do not work well when I am hungry. Its proven that kids who eat breakfast often do better in school, we need food to provide us with energy throughout the day.