Controlling for disadvantage across each context over time, the scholars determined that, consistent with prior research, family resources explain by far the biggest share of Black-white education gaps.
“This finding implies that material differences in the contexts inherited by Black and white children – rather than individual effort – drive the large education gaps we observe,” they write. “These trends have persisted through the recent era of federal accountability reforms.”
After family background, Rich and Michelmore found that schools – specifically, schools that are highly segregated due to systemic inequality in wealth and housing – are “consequential,” disproportionately exposing Black students to disadvantage for longer durations.
“Results from our study support concerns that schools exacerbate Black-white inequality,” they write, countering recent debates suggesting that neighborhood context primarily drives differences in student outcomes.
When they controlled for all three contexts together, the researchers found that gaps of nearly 13% in high school graduation and 17% in college enrollment were not only eliminated but reversed, and disparities in test scores narrowed dramatically.
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2022/10/income-segregated-schools-drive-black-white-education-gaps