page_title: Education in the United States
section_title: Racial achievement differences
hierarchical_section_title: Education in the United States / Issues / Attainment / Racial achievement differences
caption_attribution_description: English: NAEP reading scores long-term trends age 9: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/results2004/age_9_reading_perf.asp age 13: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/results2004/age_13_reading_perf.asp age 17: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/results2004/age_17_reading_perf.asp
context_page_description: Education in the United States is provided in public, private, and home schools. State governments set overall educational standards, often mandate standardized tests for K–12 public school systems and supervise, usually through a board of regents, state colleges, and universities. The bulk of the $1.3 trillion in funding comes from state and local governments, with federal funding accounting for only about $200 billion. Private schools are generally free to determine their own curriculum and staffing policies, with voluntary accreditation available through independent regional accreditation authorities, although some state regulation can apply.
  In 2013, about 87% of school-age children attended state funded public schools, about 10% attended tuition- and foundation-funded private schools, and roughly 3% were home-schooled.
  By state law, education is compulsory over an age range starting between five and eight and ending somewhere between ages sixteen and eighteen, depending on the state. This requirement can be satisfied in public schools, state-certified private schools, or an approved home school program.
context_section_description: The racial achievement gap in the US refers to the educational disparities between Black and Hispanic students compared with Asian and Caucasian students. This disparity manifests itself in a variety of ways: African-American and Hispanic students are more likely to receive lower grades, score lower on standardized tests, drop out of high school, and are less likely to enter and complete college.
  Several reasons have been suggested for these disparities.
  One explanation is the disparity in income that exists between African Americans and Whites.  This school of thought argues that the origin of this "wealth gap" is the slavery and racism that made it extremely difficult for African-Americans to accumulate wealth for almost 100 years after slavery was abolished. A comparable history of discrimination created a similar gap between Hispanics and Whites. This results in many minority children being born into low socioeconomic backgrounds, which in turn affects educational opportunities.
  Another explanation has to do with family structure.  Professor Lino Graglia has suggested that Blacks and Hispanics are falling behind in education because they are increasingly raised in single-parent families.
  Other explanations offered for the racial achievement gap include: social class, institutional racism, lower quality of schools and teachers in minority communities, and civil injustice.  Most authors mention several such factors as influential on outcomes, both in the United States and worldwide.
caption: NAEP reading long-term trends for ages 9 (light gray), 13 (dark gray), and 17 (black)
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