A study of 100 cities conducted by the non-profit group Education Cities ranks Columbus poorly for the academic achievement gap between low-income and wealthier students. Jim Letizia reports.
The study ranks Columbus 81st, with an achievement gap increase of 8 percent between 2011 and 2014. Cincinnati is ranked 34th, Toledo 60th and Cleveland 89th. Study authors say Columbus’ achievement gap is larger than 80 percent of major U.S. cities.
The study also shows ten Columbus-area schools excel at working to close the gap. They are three schools in the Hamilton Local district, as well as Columbus Alternative High School and North Franklin Elementary in the South-Western City school district. The other five are charter schools.
The group examined schools where more than 50 percent of students come from low-income households, qualifying them for free or reduced-price school lunches. Three factors help close the gap: hiring and training highly qualified teachers, establishing a culture of respect for achievement, and helping students outside of the classroom.The study created the “education equality index,” the first national comparative measure of the achievement gap.
More information is available online at educationequalityindex.org.