Similarly, studies show that lower-income students benefit by being in economically mixed schools.

In all four of the districts, the score gaps between higher- and lower-income students were not significantly different from the gap for large cities.

And for lower-income college-bound students, the lack of a state budget has created major uncertainties.

He said the new scholarships would completely offset the increases for lower-income students.

But lower-income students are going in about the same proportions that they did in the 1970's.

Instead, the White House called for increased grant aid to lower-income students.

Most disturbing, lower-income students are not getting a chance to catch up with their better-off peers.

At grade 8 Score gaps between higher- and lower-income students narrowed from 2003 to 2011 in four states.

Harvard admissions officials say that they, too, are concerned about attracting more lower-income students of all races.

"Democrats tend to see them as points of access to training for some lower-income students."