# Schools Help Close Gaps But Wealthier Kids Still Pull Ahead

> Schools narrow achievement gaps but wealthier children keep widening the divide.
- Title: Schools Help Close Gaps But Wealthier Kids Still Pull Ahead
- Summary: Schools narrow achievement gaps but wealthier children keep widening the divide.
- Keywords: schools, wealthy children, academic skills, kindergarten, achievement gaps, reading, math skills, tutoring, public school, k-12 schools, learning loss, education inequality
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/are-schools-a-great-equalizer-they-help-kids-catch-up-but-wealthier-children-still-pull-ahead-295330
- Author: David Blazar
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: schools, wealthy children, academic skills, kindergarten, achievement gaps, reading, math skills, tutoring, public school, k-12 schools, learning loss, education inequality
## Early Investment Gaps
Children from poorest families receive $44,000 less in investments than richest by age 5.
## Schools Cut Investment Gaps
Schools narrow the gap between rich and poor children by half by kindergarten entry.
## Black Children Benefit Most
Black children see the biggest reduction in investment gaps after starting school.
## Tutoring Helps Catch Up
Low-income students get 72% more tutoring than high-income peers to close gaps.
## Pandemic Worsened Gaps
Students in high-poverty districts still trail wealthier districts by more than pre-pandemic levels.
## Wealthier Kids Get Ahead
Wealthier children receive more experienced teachers and enrichment activities.
## Childcare Costs Grow
Richest 10% spend 13 times more per child on childcare than poorest quarter by 2024.
## Schools Not Enough
More catch-up help won't close gaps without addressing early investment differences.
## What Happens Next
Schools need to address early investment gaps to close achievement gaps by kindergarten.
## Key takeaway

Schools help low-income students catch up but wealthier children still pull ahead in academic skills by kindergarten.