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I think people are missing the bigger picture, that's related directly to the SAT. In the USA, public education funds are directly derived from the local tax b

I think people are missing the bigger picture, that's related directly to the SAT. In the USA, public education funds are directly derived from the local tax base as a percentage of that revenue. If you live in a rich area, it means your family is also rich. The tax base, although it may be the rough same percentage, is much higher actual dollars than a small non-rich community. I even see that locally in my nearby college town. There's definitely a "rich district". Homes go from $750k up to $5m. Their elementary has teachers and aides to cover students at 7:1, and flush with a wealthy technology budget. The other schools, or in particular, the "subsidized housing and trailer parks area's schools" have student coverage around 25:1, no teacher aides, and very limited tech budget. This should be of little surprise given how our education system by default teaches the wealthy to be wealthy. And that starts as early as preschool and easily onwards through public school. And naturally, I didn't even touch upon private schools. And in my state, vouchers can be used from public schools on private and even religious schools. That too is an even higher rung on elitism. Unless you're a genius from a poor family, you're likely going to stay in the "dumb and low paying" jobs for most of your lives.

mrangle 4y ago
Even the most expensive prep schools tend to do limited SAT test prep, if any. Poor kids can technically access the same private test prep as rich kids, and whether they actually can or not, financially speaking, has nothing to do with the tax base and the school itself. That being said, better schools do provide for better child development. This can be compensated for, to a degree, by enhanced parental interaction with the child from an early age.
- DubiousPusher 4y ago
  > This can be compensated for, to a degree, by enhanced parental interaction with the child from an early age. Which, as this article points out, is exactly the kind of thing that wealthier parents are able to provide their kids and which less wealthy parents often cannot, even when they would like to.

mrangle 4y ago

Even the most expensive prep schools tend to do limited SAT test prep, if any. Poor kids can technically access the same private test prep as rich kids, and whether they actually can or not, financially speaking, has nothing to do with the tax base and the school itself. That being said, better schools do provide for better child development. This can be compensated for, to a degree, by enhanced parental interaction with the child from an early age.

DubiousPusher 4y ago
> This can be compensated for, to a degree, by enhanced parental interaction with the child from an early age. Which, as this article points out, is exactly the kind of thing that wealthier parents are able to provide their kids and which less wealthy parents often cannot, even when they would like to.