Thus, expanding admissions criteria to include factors outside of personal achievement seems an appropriate solution. Economic differences between school districts create inequality even before college. Any real change in education policies therefore must take place in primary and secondary schools, before it's too late. An affirmative action policy only can admit students - it can't prepare them and can't guarantee their success. It is no surprise that, academically, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds fare worse than do those from wealthier upbringings.
Higher income means more property taxes, better schools and so on.
Moreover, these wealthier students may have access to better outside resources, such as SAT prep courses or private tutors. This problem also is connected directly to urban flight. Families move towards suburbs as they earn more money - often in search of better schools. Meanwhile, their departure makes it impossible for the neighborhood they leave behind to grow economically. But the issue is not just one of social class.