Eighth Grade Algebra Achievement Gap

Numbers not adding up for minority students in algebra classes, By Joe Robertson, November 30, 2010, Kansas City Star: “Algebra I in the eighth grade – before high school – is supposed to be the ticket that helps propel students to greater success beyond high school. But Kansas City area students aren’t getting an equal shot. Minority students and students from low-income families are significantly less likely than others to be enrolled in eighth-grade algebra, a Kansas City Star analysis of Missouri test records shows. Gaps were found between the percentage of minority and low-income students in eighth-grade classes and the percentage of those groups taking Algebra I. The gaps exceeded 20 percentage points at some schools. The Center School District, however, enrolls all of its eighth-graders in Algebra I. But more often area schools with some of the highest populations of poor or minority children tested few or no students in eighth-grade algebra…”