Closing the Achievement Gap: 10 Strategies for School and District Leaders

Achievement gaps amongst student groups such as white students and minority students, and high and low-income students have persisted over time. School and district leaders must take an active role in understanding, communicating, and problem solving to close achievement gaps for each and every student.

One successful approach is the achievement gaps initiative, which emphasizes the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, such as districts, unions, and community partners, to enhance student success and address the external factors impacting student performance.

This article explores the current state of the achievement gap in schools and provides an overview of 11 strategies school and district leaders can focus on to close achievement gaps in math.

What is the achievement gap? 

The achievement gap is a persistent and measurable difference in academic performance between different student groups, as seen in standardized test scores, graduation rates, and other educational metrics.

Achievement gaps identify areas of a lack of equity in education and how opportunity gaps for different subgroups of students impact achievement. This gap most commonly appears between minority and economically disadvantaged students compared to their white or more affluent peers, though it can also manifest across gender lines.

These disparities reflect deeper systemic differences in educational resources, opportunities, and support systems. Oftentimes, these result in significant variations between expected and actual learning outcomes.

The importance of closing the achievement gap

Research shows these gaps can impact everything from early readiness rates to college readiness, making it a crucial focus area in American education policy and reform.

Therefore, closing the achievement gap is crucial for improving students’ academic performance across different demographics. While there is no one singular cause of academic achievement gaps, it is evident that a wide range of factors, structure and culture, influence student success in school. We shall look at these in more detail.

Understanding the achievement gap 

The achievement gap in education remains one of the most pressing challenges facing district and school leaders today. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), significant performance disparities persist across student groups. According to the NCES, by eighth grade, Black students and Hispanic students average a significant number of points lower than white students in mathematics assessments. These gaps have remained relatively consistent since the first Nation’s Report Card in 1990.

School districts with higher concentrations of low-income students and English Language Learners (ELLs) face unique challenges. Research from the Education Trust shows that schools serving predominantly low-income students receive about $1,200 less per student in state and local funding than those serving more affluent communities.

For ELL students, who now comprise approximately 10% of all public school students nationwide, the gap is particularly pronounced where language barriers can compound learning challenges.

The consequences of these disparities materially affect student outcomes. The most recent data from the NCES reveals that while the average national graduation rate reached 87%, significant variations exist across demographic groups. White students graduate at 90%, while Black students graduate at 81%, and Hispanic students at 83%. However, these national figures mask striking district-level differences.

Roles of district and school leaders

Understanding student achievement patterns enables leaders to make more informed decisions about resource allocation and intervention strategies. While the national data presents a challenging picture, individual districts have demonstrated that significant progress is possible with strategic, sustained effort.

Districts that have successfully narrowed their achievement gaps share common approaches: targeted resource allocation, data-driven instruction, and culturally responsive teaching practices. For example, Long Beach Unified School District in California reduced its mathematics achievement gap by 50% over five years through a comprehensive approach that combined professional development, technology integration, and community engagement.

The key lies in understanding the specific local contexts and evidence-based solutions that can drive meaningful change. 

The most disadvantaged children face significant challenges in terms of educational opportunities and resources, highlighting the need for comprehensive policy interventions to address these obstacles.

“Regularly analyzing student performance data and adjusting interventions accordingly, including tutoring, before- and after-school programs, and other targeted efforts ensures both high- and low-achieving students make gains.”

Jose Dotres, Superintendent, Miami-Dade, Florida

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Top 11 evidenced-based strategies to close the achievement gap

School and district leaders can implement these research-backed interventions and partnerships to close achievement gaps and boost student performance. These comprehensive strategies focus on strengthening core instruction, data-driven decision making, and systematic support systems to improve educational outcomes for all students.

These strategies are designed to directly impact students’ academic performance and student outcomes.

1. High-quality targeted instruction

• Benefit: Enhanced learning outcomes and differentiated support  

• Explanation: Tier 1 instruction is a foundational element for reducing achievement gaps. Schools should implement high-quality, differentiated instructional resources that support student engagement in core curriculum. Leaders should use formative assessments to ensure students meet grade-level benchmarks, focusing particularly on core subjects such as math and the Standards for Mathematical Practice where gaps are most pronounced.

• Example: An elementary school reviews their math data and notices that 60% of students are making progress. Their math curriculum has not been updated in five years, so the principal initiates a committee to review the curriculum. The committee chooses a rigorous curriculum that uses research-based strategies and has two independent research studies that support its use. 

Guilford County, North Carolina, invested heavily in tutoring as a central strategy for boosting math performance. They secured philanthropic support from universities and local organizations to ensure the continuation of these efforts. The district provided virtual tutoring sessions, expanding accessibility for students who needed additional help.

“A major focus has been on ensuring the effectiveness of tutoring and interventions by tailoring instruction to students’ specific needs.”

Whitney Oakley, Superintendent, Guilford County, North Carolina₁

2. Culturally relevant curriculum

• Benefit: Increased student engagement

• Explanation: A culturally relevant curriculum (also known as culturally responsive teaching, or culturally relevant pedagogy) is an approach to teaching that incorporates students’ culture into the curriculum. Implementing teaching practices that are responsive to the cultural backgrounds and experiences of all students helps engage students and makes learning more relevant to their lives. Teachers’ and students’ materials should be culturally responsive to support student achievement through:

  • Reflective writing;

  • Cooperative learning;

  • Student-led discussions;

  • Storytelling;

  • Creating collaborative learning spaces. 

• Example: A teacher is working with fifth grade students on math word problems. The teacher engages the students in thinking about how the math concepts relate to their experience and challenges them to write math problems that are directly related to their communities. In reviewing the math problems, the teacher supports students’ ideas and helps them integrate math concepts and solutions. 

3. Extended learning time

• Benefit: Additional instructional support

• Explanation: Generally, the more time students spend in school, the higher they will score on achievement tests. One study that focused on California schools found a significantly positive relationship between the number of instructional minutes in a year and school standardized test scores. While the increase to each school day was only 15 minutes per day, it positively impacted student outcomes.  (Jez & Wassmer, 2013). Students can also receive extended time through after-school and summer programs. Researchers analyzed the results of after school programs on student outcomes and found that students who participated in high-quality after school programs demonstrated higher attendance and better performance in school on tests and grades. Summer programs, such as Third Space Learning’s online summer math tutoring program, help prevent learning loss and prepare students for the upcoming school year.

• Example: A school partners with a local after school program to share the math curriculum and math strategies that students are learning during the school day. The teachers train after school tutors so that they are better equipped to help students with their math homework, maximizing students’ after school learning time. 

Superintendent Whitney Oakley decided to Guilford County redirect funds toward interventions that increased students’ learning time. This included before- and after-school programs as well as Saturday tutoring sessions, ensuring students had multiple opportunities to receive additional instruction.

Guilford County’s 4th grade math scores increased more than eight points, surpassing the national increase of two points. The district’s average 4th grade math score equaled the national average in 2024.₁

4. Early childhood education programs

• Benefit: Early preparedness

• Explanation: Since the Perry Preschool project in the 1960s, we have known that providing students high-quality preschool pays off later in life. Implementing high-quality early childhood education programs supports students in the early years of their education. Early intervention can set a strong foundation for future academic success. Students who participate in high-quality preschool have better academic and social outcomes. A recent study of the New Jersey-based Abbot preschool program identified the following high-quality criteria:

  • A full-day pre-school program that lasts for two years;

  • High expectations and well-trained teachers;

  • Focus on ongoing improvement and track progress;

  • Provide for disadvantaged children who live in communities with high concentrations of poverty;

  • Belong to a larger system of academic improvement.

• Example: A high-quality preschool supports students’ math development by focusing on providing math materials and, when students are using them, reinforcing foundational math skills. For example, when a student collects sticks on the playground, the teacher observes and supports the student in placing the sticks into tally marks and counting in ones until they see that they have collected 15 sticks. 

5. Data-driven interventions

• Benefit: Targeted support systems

• Explanation: Data-driven interventions are part of a school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework (also known as Response to Intervention). Effective MTSS uses data from regular formative assessments to understand the skills that students lack and provides effective, timely intervention to remediate and support students who have learning gaps. Research supports effective MTSS interventions that focus on academic interventions to improve student outcomes. 

• Example: A principal implements data conversations to support teachers’ use of data. The principal sets time aside during the school day, and hires substitutes to cover classes, so teachers can analyze math data and make a plan for how to adjust instruction to improve student outcomes. 

6. One-on-one tutoring

• Benefit: Personalized learning support and targeted instruction 

• Explanation: Tutoring, providing targeted one-on-one or small group instruction, is an effective way to boost achievement by targeting and addressing student gaps. It also improves students’ attitudes about math. In one review of 65 studies of school tutoring programs, researchers found that tutoring had positive effects on academic performance and attitudes of students. Students who received tutoring outperformed students who did not and had a better attitude towards the subject they were learning.

• Example: A principal invests in one-on-one online tutoring for fourth and fifth grade. Students are identified for tutoring and teachers set aside time for tutors to work with each student. The tutor provides the teacher with updates after each lesson so the teacher can align their lessons with what students are learning in tutoring. 

7. Teacher professional development

• Benefit: Improved teaching effectiveness, better student outcomes

• Explanation: Professional development can positively impact student outcomes. When teachers apply new skills in real-world settings with feedback and monitoring, they are more likely to make changes in their teaching practice that have a positive impact on student achievement.

  Professional coaching and ongoing support that addresses culturally responsive teaching and differentiation may support teachers in addressing and closing achievement gaps. 

• Example: After reviewing student data, the principal and instructional coach design a professional development session that focuses on how to teach data analysis, one of the areas that students were not proficient in.

  After the workshop, the principal and coach spend time in classrooms observing lessons and giving real-time feedback to support teachers in sharpening their practice to, in turn, support students. 

8. Parental engagement

• Benefit: Strong home-school connection

• Explanation: Parent involvement in their child’s education can have a positive impact on student academic performance. Parents are most effective when they support the idea that their child can achieve and can succeed in school, and when there is a strong student-teacher relationship.

  School leaders can focus on partnerships that support parents’ knowledge of how to support their child, focusing on positive relationships with school and a growth mindset for students.

• Example: The school principal plans a 10 minute presentation during a school festival to explain the school policies for their math approach. They provide three things the students’ families can do at home to provide ongoing support. As the turnout for the festival is always high, the principal knows this is an opportunity to support parents’ knowledge as well. 

Sonja Santelises, Superintendent of Baltimore credits the improvement of professional development and family engagement activities that supported math learning outside the classroom for the improvement of their 4th grade math score. 12% of 4th graders scored at or above the proficient level in 2024. Up from just 7% in 2022.

“Our 4th grade math performance is encouraging. We know our approaches are working, our families are supporting the work, and our staff continue to push boundaries for our young people to reach their potential. Our focus is to continue the momentum of our acceleration efforts to reach more students.”

Sonja Santelises, Superintendent, Baltimore, Maryland₁

9. Access to technology

• Benefit: Equity in education

• Explanation: Technology is a relatively new tool for addressing achievement gaps. Access to technology in schools has become ubiquitous. In 2021, 97% of U.S. children had access to the internet through a computer or phone. This almost universal access to the internet and online tools expands the impact that online math platforms and instruction can have. Research shows a positive relationship between technology, math achievement and motivation.

• Example: A school invests in an online math platform that students use in school and at home. Teachers can review information from the platform to support in-class instruction and parents can see how their child is progressing. 

10. Social and emotional learning (SEL)

• Benefit: Better emotional well-being

• Explanation: Social-emotional learning programs support students’ ability to manage their emotions, build resilience, and stay focused. According to CASEL, participating in an SEL program has a positive impact on students’ academic achievement, attendance, grades, and homework completion. 

• Example: When teachers introduce new math concepts, introduce the material alongside an SEL skill, like perseverance. The teacher provides encouragement and feedback when students are demonstrating persistence, or when they get frustrated. 

11. Data tracking and progress monitoring

• Benefit: Continuous improvement and early intervention
  
• Explanation: The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Practice Guide “Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making” (rated Strong Evidence) recommends systematic progress monitoring as essential for closing achievement gaps. Key components of effective monitoring systems include:
  • Regular benchmark assessments aligned with state standards
  • Systematic data collection and analysis procedures
  • Teacher collaboration time for data review
  • Clear protocols for adjusting instruction based on data
  • Regular communication of progress to stakeholders
  • Student growth percentiles
  • Achievement gap analysis
  • Intervention effectiveness metrics
    
• Example: A middle school implements a quarterly data review cycle where teachers meet in grade-level teams to analyze student performance data. They identify students who aren’t making adequate progress and adjust their intervention strategies accordingly. This systematic approach helped them reduce their math achievement gap by 15% over one academic year.

School-wide initiatives can help create a positive and supportive learning environment that promotes student achievement and success. Implementing these initiatives can help schools close the achievement gap and improve student outcomes.

Using data to close the achievement gap 

Using data to identify areas for improvement is a crucial step in closing the achievement gap. School and district leaders must analyze data to determine where students are struggling and what factors are contributing to the gap.

This involves examining student performance data, including standardized test scores, high school graduation rates, and other academic metrics.

To identify areas for improvement, schools and districts can use a variety of tools and strategies, including:

Find your achievement gap data

Look at school level, district level and state level data to analyze student performance, trends and patterns. This helps in pinpointing specific areas where students are underperforming.

If your district participates in the NAEP Trial Urban District Assessment, you can look at NAEP data just for your district. Otherwise, you can look at state level data.

Using this data, you can identify specific achievement gaps that exist in your school, district or state. If you have wider achievement gaps to other schools in your district or state, approach them and ask how they are teaching those subjects to help close the achievement gap.

If their gaps are around the same number of points or for the same student groups, get together to see how you can tackle achievement gaps for specific student groups or subjects.

Progress monitoring

Don’t just use summative assessments for achievement gap data. Progress monitoring throughout the year is crucial for closing the achievement gap. It helps to identify those students falling behind way before end-of-year or unit testing.

Consistent formative assessments provide useful information about how various student groups are performing. Use this information to identify students in need of an intervention or extra instruction. This data can also identify the effectiveness of targeted interventions over time. 

Analyze student enrollment

Review student enrollment to identify school-level achievement gaps. Notice trends in the skills students have or don’t have when they start at your school and consider how you structure interventions to remediate their skills. 

Collect feedback from enrolled students, teachers, and parents to identify areas for improvement. This provides a comprehensive view of the challenges faced by different student groups.

Curriculum gaps

Review the curriculum that teachers are using in the classroom. This can help to identify gaps that need addressing by adding or revising resources. 

Additionally, conduct a needs assessment to identify areas where students require additional support. This can include academic, social, and emotional needs.

Identifying areas for improvement and the specific students requiring extra help ensures that interventions are data-driven and tailored to meet the specific needs of struggling students. Specific and targeted strategies will help in closing the achievement gap and improve student outcomes.

Addressing systemic barriers

Addressing systemic barriers is a critical component of closing the achievement gap. Systemic barriers, such as poverty, racism, and lack of access to quality education, can have a significant impact on student achievement and success. To address these barriers, schools and districts must implement strategies and programs that tackle the root causes of the gap.

Some examples of strategies and programs that can help address systemic barriers include:

• Providing access to quality education: Ensuring that all students have access to quality education, regardless of their background or ability. This includes equitable funding, resources, and opportunities for all students.

• Addressing poverty: Implementing programs and strategies that address poverty, such as providing food and clothing assistance. Schools can partner with community organizations to support students’ basic needs.

• Addressing racism: Implementing programs and strategies that address racism, such as diversity and inclusion training. Creating an inclusive school culture where all students feel valued and respected is essential.

• Providing support services: Providing support services, such as counseling and mentoring, to support students who are struggling. These services can help students overcome personal and academic challenges.

Addressing systemic barriers helps schools and districts create a more equitable and just education system that promotes student achievement and success.

This comprehensive approach ensures that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Implementing and sustaining change

Implementing changes to close the achievement gap is a fantastic star, but schools and districts must ensure they are evaluating the changes. Positive impact changes must be sustained and those that aren’t working, need to be changed to ensure long-term success.

Some examples of implementing and sustaining change include:

• Professional development: Provide professional development for teachers and staff to support the implementation of new strategies and programs. Ongoing training helps educators stay current with best practices and continuously improve their teaching.

• Build capacity: Build capacity within schools and districts to support the implementation of new strategies and programs. This includes developing leadership skills and creating a culture of continuous improvement.

• Provide resources: Provide resources, such as funding and technology, to support the implementation of new strategies and programs. Adequate resources are essential for sustaining change and ensuring that initiatives are successful.

• Engage Stakeholders: Engage stakeholders, including students, teachers, and parents, in the implementation and sustainability of new strategies and programs. Collaboration and buy-in from all stakeholders are crucial for long-term success.

By implementing and sustaining change, schools and districts can create a positive and supportive learning environment that promotes student achievement and success. This comprehensive approach ensures that efforts to close the achievement gap are effective and enduring.

Start taking steps to narrow the gap today

Closing the achievement gap feels like a big challenge, and it is. Achievement gaps show up in school and classroom-level data, and can only be addressed through an intentional, comprehensive approach. Closing achievement gaps takes long-term efforts across multiple school years, but it is worth it.

As a school leader, you only have so much time to work with teachers and students. Focusing on effective strategies that work supports academic achievement for all students.

By focusing on the 10 actionable methods in this guide, education leaders can make meaningful progress toward closing achievement gaps and supporting the success of each and every student.

Sources

EducationWeek, Bright Spots on NAEP ₁

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