The Effects of Being Low-Income on High Achieving Students
Financial struggle is rising as the economy becomes worse. This struggle affects people in many areas such as financially, emotionally, and everyday necessities to live. An area that struggling financially affects people, but is often overlooked, is education. Academic success influences low-income families who pursue a higher education. Each member from our group comes from a low-income background while at the same time striving for a higher education and a chance to move away from this economic instability. To investigate whether coming from a low-income background affects student’s academic success, we had to first define low-income. Low-income is the state of being poor, lack of means of providing material needs or comfort (Freedictionary.com). According to the Federal Poverty Level, to be classified as low-income one must make an income estimated at roughly $24,100 or less [Household of four] (US Census Bureau, 2015). Approximately, forty six percent of Americans fall under the federal poverty level. Now, how does affect low-income academics success? Now how does influence those striving for higher education.
Why is Being a Low-Income Student an Issue? …show more content…
“In 2008, 55.9 percent of such high school graduates enrolled in college. By 2013, that figure dropped to 45.5 percent.” (Jaschik 2015) The rate at which low-income students are applying to colleges is dropping. There are many explanations that can be derived from the vast spectrum of disadvantages that comes with being low-income. Students are putting off their expensive schools to help their family. Students aren’t taught the idea of delay gratification, where you put off immediate happiness [such as helping their family with money now] to be better off in the long run [such as becoming a doctor]. This idea is highly important but never taught to
Financial struggle is rising as the economy becomes worse. This struggle affects people in many areas such as financially, emotionally, and everyday necessities to live. An area that struggling financially affects people, but is often overlooked, is education. Academic success influences low-income families who pursue a higher education. Each member from our group comes from a low-income background while at the same time striving for a higher education and a chance to move away from this economic instability. To investigate whether coming from a low-income background affects student’s academic success, we had to first define low-income. Low-income is the state of being poor, lack of means of providing material needs or comfort (Freedictionary.com). According to the Federal Poverty Level, to be classified as low-income one must make an income estimated at roughly $24,100 or less [Household of four] (US Census Bureau, 2015). Approximately, forty six percent of Americans fall under the federal poverty level. Now, how does affect low-income academics success? Now how does influence those striving for higher education.
Why is Being a Low-Income Student an Issue? …show more content…
“In 2008, 55.9 percent of such high school graduates enrolled in college. By 2013, that figure dropped to 45.5 percent.” (Jaschik 2015) The rate at which low-income students are applying to colleges is dropping. There are many explanations that can be derived from the vast spectrum of disadvantages that comes with being low-income. Students are putting off their expensive schools to help their family. Students aren’t taught the idea of delay gratification, where you put off immediate happiness [such as helping their family with money now] to be better off in the long run [such as becoming a doctor]. This idea is highly important but never taught to