Unveiling Educational Inequity: Navigating Elitism in American Institutions

Born and bred in America, I have spent years navigating the education system. But one intriguing thought has occupied my mind for quite some time— the intricate dance between elitism and American institutions. As I have gone through the education system, attended multiple schools, and conversed with other students, a particular phenomenon became increasingly apparent throughout that journey, at least for me, and that was the issue of educational inequity. According to The Grey Group International, inequality hinders education access and quality for marginalized students, perpetuating poverty. For context, a marginalized identity is one in which an individual feels or is; underserved, disregarded, ostracized, or persecuted in the community. This divide alone furthers the cycle of academic inequality and general poverty. Regrettably, what we often perceive as educational luxuries – such as readily available guidance counselors, school psychologists, personal laptops, and up-to-date textbooks – are disproportionately accessible to students attending highly funded schools compared to those who do not (Semuels). The inequalities do not end there; despite what some believe, families with lower incomes; who are in desperate need of private scholarships are less likely to be granted the funds when compared to families with higher incomes (Marcus). The Hechinger Report found that 13% of students from families that make more than $106,000 a year get private scholarships, compared to the 9% of those whose families earn less than $30,000 (Marcus). Race undoubtedly influences the educational system, as highlighted by PBS. It is disheartening, yet unsurprising, to learn that white students are more likely to secure private scholarships compared to Black or Hispanic students (Marcus). There exist significant academic disparities in test scores between Black students and Caucasians, as highlighted by Reardon's research. This academic performance gap is due to factors beyond teacher performance, such as home, neighborhood, and school-related elements (Weir). While it is evident that race plays a role in the educational system, it is crucial to acknowledge that it is not the sole determinant. "Breaking the mold" is a profound phrase that holds immense significance in my life, not only because it is my father's most used expression when discussing economics but also due to its influential impact on my perspective, especially on political matters, due to its versatility. The concept of educational poverty is a cycle that spans generations, persistently perpetuated over time. It is rare to find people who lack education despite coming from wealthy families or those with extensive education despite disadvantaged backgrounds. Regrettably, individuals who come from low-income households encounter formidable obstacles to break free from this mold and secure a more promising future. As a rising junior in high school, I have noticed how engrossed I have become in college and the application process. It has become more than a mere interest; it has become a hobby. Through this journey, I have observed that those who possess ambition, hail from low-income backgrounds, and have not been handed opportunities on a silver platter; often work ten times harder than their counterparts. Their relentless efforts fill me with immense pride and foster hope for a future characterized by inclusivity, ambition, and intelligence. However, when I internally compare their hardships that led to success to those; who have had more advantages, frustration consumes me. It is not that I intentionally harbor resentment toward those in higher tax brackets; the education system is inherently unfair, regardless of which side of the situation one comes from. Work Cited Grant, Shanece. “Access to Education: The Impact of Inequality on Education” Gray Group International. 2023. https://www.graygroupintl.com/blog/impact-of-inequality-on-education-access-and-quality Marcus, Jon. “Wealthier students are more likely than poor to get private scholarships” The Hechinger Report. 2015. https://hechingerreport.org/wealthier-students-more-likely-than-poor-to-get-private-scholarships/ Semuels, Alana. “Good School, Rich School; Bad School, Poor School” The Atlantic. 2016. https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/08/property-taxes-and-unequal-schools/497333/ Weir, Kristen. “Inequality at school” American Psychological Association. 2016. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/11/cover-inequality-school Reardon, S. F. (2019). What explains White-Black differences in average test scores? [Data Discovery by The Educational Opportunity Project]. https://edopportunity.org/discoveries/white-black-differences-scores/