Statistical Evidence on Wealth Inequality in Education Systems

Stats and Facts (Read Evidence From Left to Right)

Click to enlarge image.  (Source: Public Policy and Education Fund, Back to Inequality)

This is a general graph that shows the disadvantages for poorer students in regards to budget cuts. The graph reveals that wealthy students have the least amount of budget cuts.  This demonstrates just some of the misallocations that poor students have to face on a daily basis.  


Click to enlarge image. (Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics,
Common Core of Data (CCD), Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey
Data; Civil Rights Project, New York States Extreme School Segregation)

This provides a quick snapshot of everyday life in New York City public schools.  Wealth inequality and schooling go hand in hand with racial segregation.  Although this site does not go into depth about racial segregation in schooling, it is impossible to avoid when discussing the topic of the unequal allocation of income and its effects on public education.

Click to enlarge image. (Source: Town Charts, New York city-NY, New York Education Data)

As stated throughout the website, it has become necessary to have a higher education to obtain a desirable position.  But when looking at this graph, one can see just how many individuals lack that next step towards job attainability in New York City.  


Click to enlarge image.

As seen throughout the section on “Wealth Inequality and Education,” the disparity between the rich and the poor seeps into student’s lives.  This graph depicts both racial and wealth inequality, and compares them side by side.

Click to enlarge image.(Source: Center for an Urban Future, Failing the Test)

This graph provides shocking insight on trends in New York State, and how it affects New York City residents.  As seen in the graph prior, there are many individuals throughout New York City lacking a higher educational degree or even a degree from high school.  Their income will be drastically reduced because of this factor, as demonstrated in the graph. What is most shocking, however, is that even with a college degree, nowadays, in New York State, you are still making under median income. 


Click to enlarge image. (Source: Anton Media Staff, “The Excelsior Scholarship: Tuition-Free College”)

Alas, although New York City is facing much discrimination towards the poor, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has sought to bridge the gap.  The Excelsior Scholarship will reach out to many middle-class students throughout the New York region, although it does neglect New York’s most poor, this is a positive step in the right direction.  This graph indicates how many students will qualify for this new free tuition.