Facts about Education and Poverty

• More than 30 million children are growing up in poverty in the USA (in one low-income community, there was only one book for every 300 children)
• In 2011, nearly 46.2 million Americans were living in poverty
• Children living in poverty have a higher number of absenteeism or leave school all together because they are more likely to have to work or care for family members
• Dropout rates of 16 to 24 year old students who come from low income families are seven times more likely to drop out than those from families with higher incomes
• 40% of children living in poverty aren’t prepared for primary schooling
• Children that live below the poverty line are 1.3 times more likely to have developmental delays or learning disabilities than those who don’t live in poverty
• By the end of the 4th grade, low-income students are already 2 years behind grade level and by the time they reach the 12th grade they are 4 years behind
• Less than 30% of students in the bottom quarter of income enroll in a 4 year school. Among that group – less than 50% graduate.

statistics according to US Census Bureau and various others –