It's fairly well understood that ZIP code is just as much a predictor of an individual's life expectancy as genetics. Similarly, from birth, a child’s future is often predicted by what school district they live in. In many cities across the country, the correlation between state report card grades and income is clear: wealthier districts consistently score higher while poorer districts score lower.
These disparities are especially felt in Northeast Ohio. In the most recent state report card,
the eight richest districts in the state received As. By contrast, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District earned a D grade, which was an improvement over the "F" grades received over the previous years.
How does a child’s socioeconomic status reinforce the shortcomings already present in these school systems? How is it different between those who attend an urban versus a suburban school? Can anything be done to reverse these trends?
Arianne Thomas
Director of the Aspire Program, Hathaway Brown School
Karl F. Wheatley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator of Early Childhood Teacher Education, Cleveland State University
Ryan Hurley
Co-Principal of Academic Life, Saint Martin de Porres
Adam Voight, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Curriculum and Foundations, Director of the Center for Urban Education, College of Education and Human Services, Cleveland State University
Nicholas Caraballo
Outreach Coordinator, City Club Youth Forum Council
Sam Lehman
Member, City Club Youth Forum Council
Allie Dettelbach
Member, City Club Youth Forum Council
Ethan Thomas
Member, City Club Youth Forum Council
