Impact of Poverty on Academic Achievement: How Do Kentucky's Middle Schools Measure Up?

• In Event: 61.087 - Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: 61.087-1 - Poster Session: Social Context of Research in Schools and Communities

Abstract

High-stakes assessments and accountability scores are commonly used to determine a school’s level of effectiveness. However, poverty levels can greatly impact a school’s standing. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of poverty on state test scores and explore the relationship between academic performance and poverty in the overall ranking of public middle schools in the state of Kentucky. Results indicate a moderate to strong, significant, negative correlation between academic achievement and rate of poverty, revealing that as poverty increases, academic achievement decreases. The relationship is even more prevalent when examining the relationship at the individual school district level.

Author

• Chris Cook, Appalachian State University